Olympic Legend: 8 Hours Sleep and No Phone in Bedroom
New Zealand's most decorated Olympian Dame Lisa Carrington just shared her secret weapon for peak performance, and it has nothing to do with the kayak. Her simple sleep habit could help anyone feeling tired and wired.
Olympic champion Dame Lisa Carrington credits her record-breaking athletic success to something anyone can do tonight: getting eight hours of sleep and banning phones from the bedroom.
The six-time gold medalist recently opened up about her sleep routine in The House of Wellness magazine alongside rugby star Dan Carter. Both athletes agree that quality rest matters more than any training session.
"Sleep is when my body adapts to and recovers from the training I've been doing," Carrington explained. "Without good sleep, I can't absorb that work properly, which means I won't improve."
Her evening routine stays refreshingly simple. She prepares everything for the next day, brushes her teeth, then reads in bed until her eyes get heavy. The real game changer came this year when she made one important decision.
Carrington now leaves her phone outside her bedroom completely. That small change stopped her from falling into the doomscrolling trap that keeps millions of people awake at night staring at bad news and social media.
She also established a "no work after 6pm" rule. No emails, no messaging, no stress before bedtime. Her body needed that mental wind-down time to prepare for quality sleep.
Why This Inspires
Carrington's approach proves that world-class performance doesn't require complicated biohacks or expensive gadgets. The same woman who dominated Olympic competition trusts basic habits: eight hours in bed, a good book, and keeping her phone in another room.
Carter echoed similar advice, aiming for eight hours himself despite juggling work and young children who serve as his morning alarm clock. He focuses on sleeping on his left side to improve breathing and reduce snoring.
Both champions treat sleep as seriously as their training schedules, viewing rest as the foundation that makes everything else possible.
Their message offers hope for anyone struggling with restless nights and phone addiction. You don't need an Olympic-level discipline to make these changes work. Just move your phone charger to the kitchen tonight and pick up that book gathering dust on your nightstand.
Based on reporting by Stuff NZ
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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