When I started looking up ways to improve my sleep (started by watching Matthew Walker’s Masterclass on it… and his book is on my reading list for this month), I started really focusing on trying to fix my sleep in the past couple of years. I still grapple with getting sleep, and honestly, it’s my weakest link when it comes to my general health.

I started trying hard to get into the swing of things with my exercise routine, and of course change up my nutrition habits and cut out things that were making me ill or that were my trigger foods… but I neglected sleep.

I learned this past year that ALL 3 THINGS are vital to being healthier: Sleep, Nutrition, and Exercise. It’s like a balancing act with an equilateral triangle as the base… if that triangle were lopsided, the whole act would be askew if not fall apart.

Perhaps it’s not THAT drastic, but failing to acknowledge how important all 3 parts are and how the relate to each other did me no favors. I’d hinted at this idea before, and figured now was a good time to elaborate on this revelation I had (some of you probably figured it out well before now, and some may have not… but either way…).

When all 3 elements are being worked on, my chances of success have increased and I was actually able to drop pounds, be more alert, have more energy… all those good things. It’s a definite cycle where they help each other out.

Sleep ensures that I have enough rest for my mind, creating better focus, allowing muscles to relax and repair themselves after a hard day, improve the immune system, keep the mind alert, and I have energy for the day ahead.

Good nutrition ensures I have proper energy for daily living (and fuel for exercise), can remain healthier thanks to the nutrients I take in, improve my immune system, and be able to sleep properly because I’ve timed my meals to not be too heavy or too late, but also not caused discomfort because I chose not to eat. Nutrition and it’s requirements tells me if I’m about to get dizzy (anemia sucks) and if I pay attention, what I need to do to avoid illness.

Exercise ensures I can use the nutrients I’ve taken in and not let them sit there and go to waste, that I have energy to do what needs doing and grow stronger, and that I sleep better because my body is stronger while clamoring for that rest because of the physically productive day that’s come about.

I’m sure there is a better way to explain it, and my anemia and sleepiness (I can’t quite get enough calories in my system yet… see, still working on it) are making it hard to focus. But all 3 of these elements must be worked with at the same time. I don’t see how anyone can progress by only focusing on working out, yet eating junk food and sleeping 3 hours a night, and wonder why they get nowhere. Or the person who is getting the right amount of sleep, but still sits around and eats on the couch (then wonder why they’re so tired, yet CAN’T sleep, a few nights later). Or the person who is focused on their eating habits, but never exercises or sleeps.

All 3 elements should be in sync, or really close to it. It’s a work in progress. Because of my own late nights, sleep is the most difficult factor of all for me to improve upon. I had a very productive workout this morning, and I had a nice healthy lunch. But days of little sleep have created that afternoon slump I need to learn how to get through. I have to be at work in an hour and I know the only thing that’s gonna save my rear from collapse is another protein-filled meal and a LOT of walking around. My anemia only really bugs me when I’m sitting down for a long time.

Tomorrow I’m off work, but I’ll likely get up at the regular time in the morning… but if I can squeeze a nap in later, that will help out. It doesn’t help that I have a “clopen” shift-set this weekend. I will have to work on my evening routines when I have to work those late shifts, figuring out what to do to ensure I just go right to bed.

I’m experimenting with that tonight through some small snacks I can eat in the hour or so before I leave work, like an apple or something. I hope it works out, because I know part of what upset my sleep last night (though my stomach didn’t object by growling in hunger) is eating so early and then having nothing else for about 18 hours. I just haven’t been hungry, and that’s affected my sleep because I get tired in the middle of the day and am wired when I should be going to bed. Exercise helps, but it’s the middle part of the see-saw at this point.

This week will be a good time to find that balance and stick to it.