During the peak of Michael Phelp’s career, he was sleeping 8-10 hours a night plus an additional nap during the day. Sleep was an integral part of his routine and recovery. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for all athletes. According to the NCAA, over half of college athletes report getting insufficient sleep.
There are many things that make it hard for athletes to get proper sleep. Early morning practices, travel schedules, late night workouts, and anticipation of events can make it difficult to get the recommended 8 hours. So, what can athletes do to get the most out of vital human function?
I talked to Dr. Michael Grandner to find out. Dr. Grandner is a licensed clinical psychologist and is the Director of Sleep and Health Research at the University of Arizona. He has served on both the Mental Health Task Force and Interassociation Taskforce for Sleep and Wellness for the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), the Mental Health consensus committee for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and works to help improve sleep and performance in professional and non-professional athletes.
In this episode we go deep into the sleep needs of athletes, what role sleep plays in performance and recovery, how athletes can manage sleep during difficult training and competition schedules, the tools and protocols for getting a great night's sleep every night, the role of dreams, and how sleep is related to mental health.
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