Mat Fraser said sleep is an integral part of his lifestyle and that he can sleep for up to 10 hours a night. He also admitted that getting to sleep isn’t always the easiest.
“If I’m in a situation that allows it, I can stay up until 5am without batting an eye, not even a question,” said Fraser on the JOSH MAT SEVAN podcast. “I have accidentally fallen asleep twice in my life and it freaked me out when I woke because I didn’t know what happened.”
Fraser, who retired after winning his fifth straight CrossFit Games title in 2020, said he has a specific nighttime routine that helps his body realise when it’s time to shut off for the day.
“Unless I go through my nighttime routine of telling my body it’s time to go to bed, for some reason if I get into bed and close my eyelids, my mind is like all right now we’re going to figure out all of your life problems. You know, ‘How am I going to figure out how to pay property taxes for the next 50 years’.”
The American, widely regarded as the greatest CrossFit athlete of all-time, has given a number of insights into his life via the podcast he does regularly with fellow CrossFit competitor Josh Bridges and filmmaker Sevan Matossian, who acts as the de facto host. He said his fiancée has no issues falling asleep.
“Sammy gets into bed, gives me a kiss goodnight and boom, out, it’s unreal. For me it’s a conscious effort to get myself to sleep, and that’s why I have such a rigorous routine of phone off, TV off, no stimulants after one in the afternoon, I’m having my cup of Dream an hour before bed, all these things to get myself ready to go to bed.”
Fraser mentioned the popular drink, Dream, which is touted as a natural sleep aid that has a number of vitamins and minerals associated with sleep, including GABA, melatonin and 5-HTP. Fraser said while he was competing he used to read at night, but many of his daily habits have now changed since he retired in February.
Sleep has become big business not only for athletes, but regular people looking to maximise health and wellness.
Fraser and Bridges also spoke about American entrepreneur, author and lifestyle guru Tim Ferriss, who polled a number of CEOs and successful entrepreneurs and found that the vast majority prioritised sleep and got at least eight hours regularly.
“It’s not a coincidence that all these people are putting a priority on their sleep, and a priority on their fitness,” added Fraser.
