Question about getting enough rest.

[JKnockawitz]

I didn't really know where to put this so I put it here. Ive finally got to the point where I don't over obsess about every detail and I'm making great gains but I'm curious if it matters what time you go to sleep as long as you're resting enough. Like say I go to bed at 2 or 3 AM every night but I wake up at 10 or 11 AM. Is this the same as getting to bed earlier like 10 and waking up at 6? Just wondering bcuz my body is used to it and I like to hang out with friends for a few hours after work. So does it make a difference?

[kievbison]

Getting to sleep at 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. is a "few" hours after work?

Kidding.

It seems like your body is accustomed to the schedule, so if you're making gains, no reason to switch.

At 21 you should be enjoying life and friends. If it suits you, take advantage of that lifestyle for as long as possible.

[JKnockawitz]

Getting to sleep at 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. is a "few" hours after work?

Kidding.

It seems like your body is accustomed to the schedule, so if you're making gains, no reason to switch.

At 21 you should be enjoying life and friends. If it suits you, take advantage of that lifestyle for as long as possible.

Yessir. I get home from work usually by 11 PM. I'm a full time closer so I work 1-10:30 every shift plus the drive home. It does suit me to have fun with friends but I end up feeling guilty like staying up do late isnt as good as getting to bed earlier. One reason I think this is bcuz I start to feel really sore from my workout that day like my body is asking me to rest or something?

[rippedfishy]

Yupp, it doesn't affect you because your body is used to this schedule. This IS normal sleep hours for your body. Just curious, what u work as?

[JKnockawitz]

Yupp, it doesn't affect you because your body is used to this schedule. This IS normal sleep hours for your body. Just curious, what u work as?

Sweet, bcuz I hate laying in bed really early tossing and turning trying to get "optimal sleep" More and more each day I'm realizing thst in bodybuilding what's "optimal" is whatever's optimal for each individual person. I'm a meat cutter at the grocery store Publix.

[kievbison]

Yessir. I get home from work usually by 11 PM. I'm a full time closer so I work 1-10:30 every shift plus the drive home. It does suit me to have fun with friends but I end up feeling guilty like staying up do late isnt as good as getting to bed earlier. One reason I think this is bcuz I start to feel really sore from my workout that day like my body is asking me to rest or something?

Ah, the closing shift and hanging out afterward. Was there once. Good times.

It's remotely possible soreness can be tied back to your sleep schedule, but not likely, mostly because your sleep and wake times are consistent. Generally the body doesn't like it when sleep and wake times are all over the board, which could affect recovery and contribute to soreness, but it seems highly doubtful in your situation.

To treat soreness, experiment with stretching after workouts or on off days. Or consider light movements on off days to promote blood flow and circulation. Add/remove one at a time so you can adequately identify the treatment that's most effective for you.

[JKnockawitz]

Btw the earliest I go to sleep is 12 AM and the latest is 3 AM. Would this still be considered consistent?

[rippedfishy]

Sweet, bcuz I hate laying in bed really early tossing and turning trying to get "optimal sleep" More and more each day I'm realizing thst in bodybuilding what's "optimal" is whatever's optimal for each individual person. I'm a meat cutter at the grocery store Publix.

Yes! That's exactly what I was thinking today. Different things work for different people.

[kievbison]

Btw the earliest I go to sleep is 12 AM and the latest is 3 AM. Would this still be considered consistent?

A little hard to say. Probably no hard and fast rule. At the ripe age of 32, a 2-hour window for bedtime is something I really feel the next day. At 21, maybe you can handle a bigger window. I would say tighten that up, if possible, but again, your physical response will be the best indicator of what limits you can push.