My husband was watching the Today show the other day. There was a psychologist on it that said Americans (don't know about Canadians) are averaging 6.1 hours per night, way below the recommened 8 (for most people; individuals vary). Apparently, brain activity falls way off after that. I'm sure swimming performance must too. So
1. How much sleep are people getting?
2. How much sleep would you like to get?
3. How much sleep is conducive to best swim performance?
4. Does lack of sleep effect your performance at practice or a meet?
SCY freestyler:
I don't think we're "supposed" to need less sleep as we get older unless we are significantly less active. I think it just happens. It may be that you're working more, and, as you know, kids get in the way. I still feel like I need more sleep, but if I went to bed at 10:00, I'd lose my mind because I would have no time to myself.
I also think, at least for women, hormones play a role/interfere with sleep. And I've heard that we produce less melatonin and whatnot as we get older, so we're missing the stuff that helps us sleep.
There must be an MD on here that could tell us what that "whatnot" stuff is. I'm just a boring lawyer.
SCY freestyler:
I don't think we're "supposed" to need less sleep as we get older unless we are significantly less active. I think it just happens. It may be that you're working more, and, as you know, kids get in the way. I still feel like I need more sleep, but if I went to bed at 10:00, I'd lose my mind because I would have no time to myself.
I also think, at least for women, hormones play a role/interfere with sleep. And I've heard that we produce less melatonin and whatnot as we get older, so we're missing the stuff that helps us sleep.
There must be an MD on here that could tell us what that "whatnot" stuff is. I'm just a boring lawyer.
