Q: I’m often in a position in which I must choose between getting 8 hours of sleep or exercising. Is it healthier to sacrifice sleep in order to make time for a morning workout?
— LG
A: This is a great question, LG! Not because it is easy to answer — it isn’t — but because so many students can relate. There are only so many hours in the day, after all. Dividing your precious time between class, studying, eating, exercising, working and sleeping is a classic college challenge.
Picture a juggler, a really good one, with several balls in the air. See how she deftly catches each one, holds it for a moment, then lofts it up just in time to catch the next ball as it comes arcing down. Toss, spin, catch, toss; the flying balls are a graceful blur. The practiced juggler makes it look easy. But you know that if she hangs onto a ball too long, tosses one too high, or falters in her rhythm, the whole array can come crashing down.
That’s you. Each ball is a different demand on your time. You’re keeping all your duties and demands in the air; juggling study time, sleep time and all the rest. Juggling all those endeavors requires balance – that perfect stance and rhythm that gets all your work done and leaves you a healthy, fit, rested person.
If you’re like most of us, that perfect stance is an elusive experience. Much of the time we teeter, grabbing clumsily and dropping balls. Most of us have too many balls in the air and are not expert circus performers. So how can we keep from crashing?
Again, think of the juggler. How does she do it? First of all, she practices. You can practice, too. Try exercising one day, taking that time to sleep the next. Try doing homework at the library between classes one week, at home in the evening the next. See what works best for you.
How will you know? Listen to your body. Our bodies are smarter than our brains in many ways. Your body knows what you need. Get to know what it feels like when your body really needs sleep versus when you’re just foggy-headed from too many hours staring at a book or a screen. If you’re foggy-headed, exercise can be just the thing to perk up your brain. If you really need sleep, trying to cram more into your tired brain the night before a test will backfire on you the next day.
When you have achieved balance, even for a moment or a day, your body knows it. You feel relaxed and strong. Your muscles are not tense, your breath flows easily, and you are alert. Get to know that peaceful feeling. Keep trying for it.
Back to the juggler. Does she always keep all the balls in the air? No. Sometimes she drops one or more. What does she do? She keeps juggling until she is able to pick up the dropped ball and return it to the group. Even if she drops them all, the show is not over. She smiles, picks them back up, and starts fresh.
Sometimes you have to let something go in order to keep the rest of the system working. You might have to sacrifice some social time in order to study, or sacrifice sleep in order to get a good workout. But that doesn’t mean your show is over. Keep your stance as best you can, and soon you’ll be back in balance with all the balls in the air.
I realize I haven’t answered your question. Your body needs both sleep and exercise, and, unless you’ve figured out a way to safely jog in your sleep, you might have to choose one over the other from time to time. Only you can know what is right for you. Listen to your body’s cues, practice, and keep your stance as balanced as you can. Before you know it, you’ll be juggling with the best of them.
Lastly, don’t forget to appreciate the juggler. What you are doing is not easy. Do for yourself what you would for the juggler in the street: Give yourself a round of applause.
Peggy Spencer, M.D., is a board-certified family physician. She has been a UNM Student Health physician for 17 years and a Daily Lobo contributing columnist for three years. She is co-author of the book 50 Ways to Leave Your 40s. Drop your questions in her box in the lobby of Student Health and Counseling, or e-mail her directly at Pspencer@unm.edu. All questions will be considered, and all questioners will remain anonymous. This column has general health information only and cannot replace a visit to a health provider.
