I hit 60 in Jan so signed up for Parkrun last month, Saturday was #5. The knock on effect has blown me away, learning about cardio, strength training, cross training, running at different speeds, walking, sleeping, holy moly, this sporty fitness stuff is a whole new world and learning curve for me including your channel. Since getting a Garmin watch, the sleep charts have made me much more aware and accountable.
Hey! Congratulations on embracing your fitness journey and hitting such an impressive milestone with Parkrun! It's fantastic to hear how it's opened up a whole new world of wellness and knowledge for you. I love that you're already tracking sleep habits with Garmin 🙌 I'm thrilled to have you as part of this community and hope this channel continues to support and inspire your journey. Keep up the amazing work, and here's to many more achievements ahead!
Hi Emma, thanks for stressing the importance of this. I heard anecdotely that you need less sleep as you get older, so are you saying that the latest research says the opposite? I look forward to getting more details about sleep hygiene- thanks for sharing!
Hi Stephen! Thank you for your insightful question! It's a common belief that we need less sleep as we age, but the science behind sleep needs is a bit more nuanced. While it's true that older adults might find themselves sleeping fewer hours, research suggests that the actual need for restorative sleep doesn't decrease with age. Older adults still require about 7-9 hours of sleep for optimal health, but they may experience changes in sleep patterns, such as earlier bedtimes and wake times, and possibly more fragmented sleep. In the upcoming video, I'll dive deeper into the intricacies of sleep hygiene and the impact of aging on sleep patterns. I'll also cover how we can adapt our sleep habits to continue getting the quality rest our bodies need throughout our lifetime. Stay tuned for more details on how to enhance your sleep quality, regardless of your age. Your health and well-being are always worth investing in! Looking forward to sharing more with you, Emma
Hey, thanks for the request! Of course! It'll be a few weeks at least until I can film that topic, as I have some scheduled interviews first (we always film weeks ahead, so my husband has ample time to edit the footage), but I'd love to make a video on that topic!
Excellent question to share with the community! I recommend experimenting with limiting nap duration. You can try 20 minutes (a "cat nap") and then you can attempt to target one sleep cycle (90-110 minutes as discussed in the video) to better avoid the fogginess often associated with waking up in the middle of a sleep cycle or, rather, a second sleep cycle!
