Should I just sleep in? It’s a question we’ve all asked ourselves. Most of us have probably said those exact words in the past week. We have a late night out or we’re desperate to ‘catch up’ on sleep so we decide to get a few extra hours (or sometimes just minutes) of sleep. The first thing to go on these mornings is the ‘most important meal of the day.’ The question is, how beneficial is that extra time in bed?
The Argument for Sleeping in:
We are all aware of the benefits of getting enough rest. Every doctor out there is screaming at us to get more, but late nights out or sometimes just catching up on our assignments always seem to take away from that hope. Ideal amounts of sleep appear to vary from person to person, but the CDC outlines the recommended numbers based on age here. The general trend suggests that as you age, you require less and less sleep. For example, preschoolers (ages 3-5) need 10-13 hours, while adults ages 18-60 need seven or more. After those late nights where waking up in a few hours seems impossible, we tend to start our mornings a bit later. The problem with this concept lies in the way it alters our sleep schedule. Jeff Kahn weighs the pros and cons of this concept in his article. Kahn explains how sleeping longer can alter your sleep schedule, which may lead to lower energy. However, if you aren’t getting enough sleep, your ‘sleep debt’ is something that needs to be addressed.
The Argument for Breakfast:
If you’ve decided that extra sleep is more important, there’s another aspect to consider: breakfast. Let’s be honest with ourselves, when you’re sleeping in, the first thing to go is almost always breakfast (especially when you’re living in halls and only have an hour to eat). We’ve all done it, but does that make it right? Jessica Brown covers the details of breakfast’s benefits and looks at common arguments in her BBC article. She mentions a study on how skipping breakfast can also alter your circadian rhythm, as well as the effect of breakfast on weight. Another article I found helpful on breakfast covers what you should be eating, emphasising the value of a well-rounded meal with carbs, proteins, and fruits or vegetables.
Final Verdict:
So, both sleep and breakfast are vital to a good day; we already knew this. The question really lies in which is more beneficial to you. I find that most of the time I prefer to wake up and get a decent breakfast and coffee rather than skipping and having my stomach growl until lunch. Part of this may be biased as breakfast is my favorite meal, but I do believe it’s the best way to begin a day.
I find that once I’m in the routine of eating breakfast, breaking it is miserable, similar to breaking a sleep schedule, which has led me to believe that the easiest solution is to budget your time well. I know, easier said than done, but it’s true. I think the key is a balance. If you try to get to bed a bit earlier, you can still manage to wake up for a good breakfast in the morning. Of course, there are days when going to bed early is either impossible or improbable. Sometimes, especially when feeling under the weather, sleep is often the best thing you can do for yourself. Or on slow mornings, if you’re truly desperate to catch up on sleep, waking up a little later and grabbing breakfast can be an energising experience. On a day-to-day basis, though, consistency is preferred. Attempting to establish a routine for your nightly sleep schedule is the way I’ve found to be most effective in getting both good sleep and a nutritious breakfast in the morning.