Do you get enough sleep? Yikes, I know this might be a sensitive subject or silly question for moms with babies. But, it is a question worth asking if it is rephrased to, “Do you get enough sleep to work out?” Exercise is a physical stressor on the body. So is sleep deprivation. So if you exercise while sleep-deprived, you need to consider the consequences. However, we also know that exercise has many benefits, including aiding in sleep and providing energy…so avoiding it all together isn’t always the best solution either. 

For many moms there probably won’t be one answer. It will probably vary week to week based on cumulative sleep loss and type of physical activity, knowing some workouts are more intense than others. So although I can’t give you a definitive answer, I can provide you with some factors to consider when you’re debating whether the 30-minute nap vs. 30 minutes of exercise is more beneficial for you.

If you are strength training and not getting adequate sleep after workouts, your results could be compromised. During resistance training your muscles essentially break down and it’s in repairing that you see results like increased strength and definition. Growth Hormone is the hormone responsible for this repair, however, this hormone is produced during sleep. So if you’re not sleeping enough, your muscles may not have sufficient repair time to see the results you’re working for. So in this case it may sound like a nap is more beneficial, but a 30-minute nap may not get you to the stage of sleep you need to produce Growth Hormone. You could choose the workout, but if you do, make sure you can get enough sleep that night to support your efforts or perform a workout that does less damage to your muscles.

If you find that when you are participating in the same type of exercise as usual, but your workouts are seemingly harder, this could mean the lack of sleep is impacting your perceived level of exertion. Research has shown that with insufficient sleep, your workouts may feel more challenging than you’d normally think they are. Most people don’t like to suffer through workouts they believe they should be able to do, so this change in perception might dissuade you from keeping up with your exercise plan. However, studies do show that interval training with intervals of 30 seconds or less may not impact your perception of exertion quite as much as longer intervals.

If you’re exercising with a weight loss goal, lack of sleep can interfere with your progress. You have hormones like Lepitin, ghrelin, and endocannabinoids and their role is to regulate appetite. Without proper sleep, they may cause you to crave carbohydrates. Cortisol is another hormone that is impacted by sleep. With the stress of sleep deprivation, your levels of cortisol may remain high which then affects both weight loss and can disrupt sleep.

If you’re wondering if there are actually any benefits to napping, there are. Studies have shown that napping can improve cognitive function. If your brain feels foggy, or your attention span isn’t great, or your memory seems off, napping could be of benefit to you. The best time to nap is between 1-4 pm and between 20-40 minutes so that you don’t disrupt your bedtime sleep. Additionally, when observing sleep deprived athletes, there is evidence that napping can improve physical performance (the same improvement was not seen in well rested athletes). 

Well, I started this post saying that there won’t be one answer, but I’ve definitely given you some things to consider. My best advice would be if your sleep deprivation is chronic, that you should aim for low to moderate-intensity exercise, and just enough to meet the physical activity recommendations for health. If your sleep deprivation is more acute, considering the timing of your workout may be beneficial. Because exercise performance decreases each hour after waking, aiming for physical activity early in the day can lead to a better workout. If there is a possibility for a nap, I’d suggest not planning to work out in the afternoon between 1-4, as that would be prime time for a nap. If you decide to nap before a workout, giving yourself at least 30 minutes of wake time before activity is recommended.

As you navigate your sleep cycle, a flexible exercise plan can feel more manageable. On days you get good rest, maybe a workout later in the day is possible. On days you wake up early, aim for a morning workout. If your sleep deprivation is sporadic, maybe you skip the workout altogether, or aim for shorter intervals rather than the endurance workout you planned.

At Active Mom Fitness, sleep and the ability to recover are always a factor. If you need more guidance navigating a workout program that works while you’re sleep-deprived, schedule a consultation.