Factsheet: Sleep and the Athlete
Sleep and the Athlete
“So often sleep is the first thing to go when there’s a busy schedule and a lot on the plate, making it a priority is essential for players and coaches”
Cheri Mah, Sleep Research Fellow at UCSF Human Performance Center
Why is sleep important?
How much sleep do we need?
Tips for getting better sleep
Relief from sleeping disorders
Interesting research/studies on sleep
How Metrifit uses sleep
Improving your sleep hygiene
Getting enough sleep just doesn’t happen overnight. If you have bad habits regarding sleep hygiene you need to work on them and commit to change. Some recommendations to improve your sleep include:-
- Avoid stimulants at least 6 hours before bedtime
- Switch off devices
- Avoid obsessive clock watching
- Avoid excessive food and liquid late at night
- Use beds for sleep – if you cannot sleep get out of bed for a while
- Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and comfortable
- Maintain a regular sleep schedule
- Avoid sleep naps if you are having trouble falling asleep at night
- Seek out bright light in the morning but avoid in the evening
Improving your athletic performance may be as simple as getting more shut-eye.
About Metrifit
Metrifit’s approach not only covers the physical requirements of a particular sport but also helps the coach derive the benefits of other factors that have a significant influence on an athlete’s well-being: training, body, nutrition, mind, and sleep. Daily wellness questionnaires and Session RPE are just some of the modules included. Metrifit’s lifestyle profiling is scientifically supported and offers a practical way to assess and improve lifestyle strategy for your team. In this short video, we explain how Metrifit works for both the athlete and the coach.
To find out more contact us at or click on ‘Request Demo’ below.
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