Sleep & Sports – The Secret Training Partner

We’ve all been there: one rough night of sleep, and suddenly nothing goes right the next day. Your head feels foggy, your reaction time is questionable at best, and even tying your shoes feels like a coordination challenge. In short: without sleep, not much works—especially when it comes to sports.

What many underestimate: quality sleep is almost as important as the training itself. Waking up well-rested means more energy, better focus, and that next workout doesn’t seem quite so intimidating. Recovery also runs much more smoothly. No surprise then that many athletes now track their sleep just as diligently as their steps. Sleep data has basically become the new warm-up.

And yes, there’s a hormone involved—somatotropin, also known as the trusty old growth hormone. It’s mainly released at night and helps repair and strengthen your muscles—maybe even making them a little more impressive—while you’re simply lying there asleep. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, doesn’t it?

Protein synthesis also goes into high gear at night. Your body produces new proteins, which are essential for things like cell repair, immune function, and—of course—muscle building. Without enough sleep, this whole internal repair service slows down. The result? You hit the gym the next day feeling like a phone running on 5% battery—not ideal.

So, especially if you train hard and often, make sure to invest in your nightly rest. Because while you sleep, your body is already working on your comeback.