A recent survey of regular exercisers reveals that over a fifth of Gen Z prioritise a toned stomach over a good night’s sleep.
One in five Gen Z adults would rather have a six pack than a good night’s sleep, research has found. A poll of 1,500 adults who exercise regularly discovered 22% of young adults born after 1996 admitted achieving a toned stomach is more important to them than having a decent night’s kip.
This is twice as many as the national average, with only 10% of all adults feeling the same way. Similarly, 21% of Gen Z prioritise maintaining their fitness regime over getting proper sleep for their overall wellbeing, with 29% of adults who exercise preferring the early hours of 5am to 10am.
The study revealed that nearly half of adults (48%) acknowledge their overall wellbeing is greatly enhanced by a good night’s sleep. Yet, millennials seem to be the group struggling the most with maintaining a consistent bedtime and wake-up schedule (30%), as well as ditching their mobiles to cut down on screen time before hitting the hay (41%).
As such, only 31% have adjusted their sleep schedule to align with their fitness goals. However, of those who have aligned their sleep schedule with their goals, 87% have found their new routine helpful in terms of improving their performance and recovery.
The study was commissioned by Silentnight, which has partnered with Myvitamins to create a sleep training plan to help fitness fanatics manage their routines to build personalised, lasting habits for better energy, recovery and improved wellbeing.
Dr Holly Milling, the in-house sleep expert at the mattress company, explained: “Sleep is a powerful performance tool and we don’t need to choose between a six pack and good night’s rest. High-quality, consistent sleep actually enhances performance and improves motivation and focus. Nurturing your sleep won’t hold back your fitness goals, it will help you achieve them more effectively.”
A representative from Myvitamins highlighted the indispensable role of sleep, saying: “Without the right amount of proper sleep, your day-to-day life can be severely affected, from your focus and mood to your energy levels and athletic performance. Supplements can help support better sleep, especially if your diet lacks specific nutrients.”
Millennials were the most likely to take vitamins and supplements (57%) to help with their regime, with 44% of Gen Z doing the same. Of the 53% of all adults who have taken vitamins, reasons for doing so included to boost their nutritional needs, provide energy and support their sleep.
“Magnesium has been shown to have a positive impact on sleep quality and can potentially help people struggling with sleep-related issues,” added the representative. “One of the main reasons magnesium aids in sleep is its ability to promote relaxation and calm the nervous system, helping people have a deeper, more restful sleep.”
Dr Holly Milling commented: “It’s encouraging to see that more young people are starting to recognise the value of routine and recovery, but we still need to shift the mindset that sleep is a luxury or something to sacrifice in pursuit of fitness.”
