How Exercise can Help Improve Your Sleep
Friday September 29, 2006
Most of us know what happens if we don't get enough sleep. We're tired, cranky and every task seems harder than usual. Experts also know that sleep deprivation can actually contribute to weight gain. If you're like me, you'd love to get a good night's sleep but you may have problems falling asleep or staying asleep, despite your best efforts. You probably know a few things you can do to get more quality sleep - going to bed and getting up at the same time each night, avoiding caffeine or alcohol before bed, etc. But, did you know that exercise can help too?
In a presentation to the American College of Sports Medicine, sleep researcher Shawn D. Youngstedt, Ph.D. noted that:
- Exercise can help shift the body clock to get your circadian rhythms back on track
- Exercising outside and being exposed to light helps promote sleep
- Even intense workouts before bed don't always interrupt sleep
One way to see if exercise can help you sleep better is, of course, to do it. But it does depend on when you exercise, so try working out at different times of the day, if you can, to see it works for you. Learn more in Walking Guide Wendy Bumgardner's article Morning Exercise Helps Sleep and head over to the Workout Center for exercise ideas.
Comments
Thank you for aknowledging the importance of sleep. In my profession, I try to convince patient’s on a daily basis, how important proper sleep hygene is. Proper exercise and healthy lifestyle choices are difficult to attain when one is sleep deprived. Diagnosis and treatment of a sleep disorder can make a huge difference in length and quality of life. Thank you for spreading the word!
Sincerely,
Dominic Petrich, RRT
Lead Therapist for somniCare, INC.
♥I just want to say this is a good thing you put this up here because i dont know if im the only one but i thought that exercising before bed might wake me up and not let me go to sleep!♥
Thanks for this important reminder. I think we mostly all know how important sleep is to how we feel. However, we tend to forget, or push aside, the fact that we definitely need to exercise. Walking is a great exercise. No special equipment needed. We have to make time for exercise. I say this freely because I am one of the people who keep meaning to exercise regularly - - but always seem to get side tracked. I am going to use your article as my motivator. Thanks!
me likes exercise lot. Me and my homies exercise all the time now that we live in the us not in mexico. thanks holmes
juan jose hernadez de garcia