Night owl Catherine responds to lark Samantha about exercise and getting up early – FIT IS A FEMINIST ISSUE

In Tuesday’s post, Samatha, noted morning person, discussed this study that found connections between both sleep duration and timing of sleep to quality and duraction of exercise the following day. This article from Real Simple summarizes their results like so:

• New research shows that earlier bedtimes are linked to higher levels of physical activity—independent of how long you sleep.
• Quality sleep supports muscle recovery, hormone balance, and energy levels, all of which are essential for getting the most out of your workouts.
• Starting your day with water, natural light, and a balanced meal—and limiting caffeine before bed—can help maximize your energy and performance.

I think we can all agree that being well-rested helps us get motivated for physical activity and supports both its quality and the pleasure we get from it.

And this is good news for people who are habituated to an early-to-bed, early-to-rise regimen.

But what about us 24-hour-party-people? Those who tip toe back home in the light of day, and then spend other people’s productive hours slumbering?

There is nothing in these pictures to suggest people who would welcome a text or– gasp!– a phone call from their morning yoga class accountability buddy. And as one of said people, I concur. No, just no to the 6 or 7 or 8am nudges to get out the door for that run, walk, ride or swim.

Honestly, on the rare occasions that I’m up at the crack of dawn and moving about in the outside world with friends, doing something gloriously physical (and Samantha has instagated some of them, as has my lark friend Janet), I’ve had a great time.

But does this mean I will or can manage to make it a habit on my own? No. Believe me, I’ve tried. It just doesn’t happen. My night owl identity is just too deeply set into me. So I grudgingly meet people for 10am rides, 11am yoga classes, and happily go on afternoon swims. But I really like evening yoga classes and evening walks on the beach (and evening swims, too, under the stars).

Morning friends, you just don’t know what you’re missing…So let me show you– an evening solo swim in Arizona under an inky sky, in a pool with blue lights (that my iphone thought looked better in purple).

Friends, have any of you enjoyed the pleasure of a late night swim? Is it maybe time for another one soon? I thought so.

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Published by catherine w

I’m a feminist public health ethicist (yes, that’s a thing). I’m interested in heath behavior change, particularly around eating and activity, and how things other than knowledge affect our health decisions.I’m also a cyclist (road, sort-of-off-road, commuter), regular yoga-doer, occasional swimmer and kayaker and leisurely social walker.
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