Why Exercise Helps You Sleep Better at Night
Everybody knows how exercising is a crucial part of achieving a healthy lifestyle. And there are tons of indoor and outdoor workouts we can do to get our bodies moving during the day. From walking around the neighborhood, jogging, aerobic exercising, cardio, and many more. But not only does it help in a weight loss journey, healthy diet, or mental health, but numerous studies also linked it to improving nights of sleep!
The relationship between sleep and exercise goes both ways. Regular exercise affects sleep just as much as sleep can impact your body's ability to perform certain activities. If you are wondering why and how exercise can help you sleep better at night, we've gathered some beneficial information for you to take a closer look at:
It decreases daytime sleepiness
According to Sleep Foundation, being consistent in performing physical activities can reduce daytime sleepiness as it mitigates the causes of conditions that affect sleep. Consequently, it allows us to establish the correct sleep-wake pattern. Exercises during the day also contribute to this as sunlight exposure sets our body's ability to stay alert and know when to wind down.
It relieves stress
Stress is the enemy of sleep. When there are a lot of things going on in your mind before sleep, it becomes harder for your body to lie down.
Our brain releases good chemicals that improve our mood and is vital for healthy brain functioning whenever we exercise. Mind-body exercises like yoga and tai chi are some of the most effective ways to release tension and relax. The act of exercising itself increases levels of happiness, especially when you feel like you spent your time being productive. If you are curious why, READ THIS.
It increases sleep drive
Being more active during the day helps you fall asleep faster at night. On the other hand, less active people tend to have difficulties sleeping because their bodies do not get to move enough. This is because being physically active requires more energy, which helps your body to feel more the need to rest at night.
It helps regulate circadian rhythm
Brain chemicals released when exercising enhance our natural body clock called the circadian rhythm. It controls our mindfulness to staying awake and knowing when to sleep. Not only does it affect our sleep quality, but the duration of our sleep as well!
It helps with sleep problems
Some of the common causes of sleep problems include stress, depression, and anxiety, and the feel-good chemicals released from engaging in physical activities can help combat these.
The role of physical activities in our sleep and well-being is vital. Every bit of exercise we do, no matter how simple it may seem, can go a long way to establishing a healthy lifestyle. The recommended amount of exercise is for about 30 minutes a day for 5 days or 150 minutes a week - and it does not always have to be too intense! However you want to do it, the key is to always be consistent and take care of your body just as how much it does for you!
