Sleep and Recovery Importance for Student Athletes

Photo By: Abby Plevin

 As a student athlete you have a lot going on with your life on top of your academics and sport requirements. Having all of this on your plate at once is tiring and tough on your body and mind. Speaking as a student athlete myself I have recently realized how important sleep and recovery is for my mind and body. It helps me in all aspects of life making sure I am fully rested. For this blog post we will discuss how to get enough rest and recovery and also the importance of it!

Tips to make sure you get enough sleep and recovery as a student athlete!

1. Prioritize Sleep: Make sure you are getting 8 hours of sleep each night. Having a quiet place to sleep at night and dark room will help you reach your rem sleep. Plan your day so you are able to have the time at night to calm down and take time to get adequate rest.

2. Schedule Rest Days: After big workouts, traveling, or games make sure you are using your off day to your advantage. Use that rest day to go for a shirt walk or get your body moving and then rest and chill the rest of the day.

3. Fuel your Body: Eating properly is an essential prt of good recovery habits. Making sure you have carbs, veggies, and protein in your meals are all very helpful for you body being an athlete.

Importance of Sleep and Recovery 

1.  Performance/endurance: A good amount of sleep and recovery time allow your body to repair itself ca lead to improved performance on and off the court. And your overall energy levels and endurance while playing will be improved by following a good schedule of sleep and recovery. This means you’ll be able to run faster, jump higher, and perform better overall.

2. Injury Prevention: When you’re tired and overworked, you’re more prone to injuries. Losing sleep will affect you more physically than you might realize. Sleep and recovery will give your body enough time to strengthen itself and feel good which leads to less injuries.  Injuries are something that no athlete wants to happen and having good recovery and sleep is very helpful to make sure injuries are less likely happen.

3. Mental Health: Mental health is a huge topic when it comes to student athletes. being stressed is very common and normal for a student athlete which can lead to losing sleep or not spending time recovering properly. Getting enough sleep and recovery time can help improve your mood and reduce stress and anxiety, which will have a positive impact on your mental health.

Do you ever lose sleep or recovery time because you are so busy? Because I know I do, but overall sleep and recovery should be a top priority of a student athlete. Following the tips mentioned above can help you have a more positive impact on your life using sleeping and recovery to your advantage. Remember as a student athlete it is important to take care of your mind and body!