One of the biggest reasons as to why people workout today, is mainly to stay physically fit, so that we can avoid all manner of medical problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis…

However, the benefits of working out go far beyond that. The quality and quantity of sleep we receive is significantly impacted by the amount of physical activity we put our bodies through. Numerous studies have shown that when we exercise, we sleep more easily, and also get better quality rest through the night. Here are a few ways exercise impacts sleep quality:

Helps you to fall asleep

Exercise is crucial when it comes to getting you to sleep. When you exercise regularly, you tire your body, therefore making it possible to fall asleep faster and stay asleep for longer. In fact, when you have a vigorous workout, your muscles tend to go into overdrive. When the workout is done, they go in to recovery mode. You need rest to recover for your next workout.

Helps alleviate stress

One constant cause of insomnia is stress. When you keep thinking about things that make you anxious, it can be difficult, both to fall asleep and stay asleep. When we are stressed, the muscles in our necks, shoulders and back tend to tense up, too, which in turn makes it virtually impossible to have a good night’s sleep. However, workouts are a great stress reliever. They help to take your mind off stressful situations and eliminate the symptoms of stress on our bodies. 

Improving the quality of sleep

Length of sleep doesn’t necessarily equal quality of sleep. You might sleep for a long time, but if the rest is marred by interruptions, it won’t do much good. The solution to such a problem is working out. When you put in a good workout, your body tends to sweat out lots of toxins, and also uses up a lot of your energy. Therefore when you go to sleep, you will sleep for longer and go through all the four stages of sleep. In fact, scientists have found that when you work out, stages three and four of the sleep cycle, or otherwise known as ‘deep sleep’ tend to be longer and more impactful. 

Eliminates daytime sleepiness

Daytime sleepiness is a common phenomenon today. It’s usually as a result of obesity, depression, sleep deprivation, and diabetes. However, when you work out regularly, especially in the morning hours, you tend to feel more alert and energised throughout the day. While some people might think that this phenomenon is true only for young people, scientists believe that it’s a constant for people of all ages. Regular exercise impacts all these symptoms and helps people to be more productive throughout the day. 

Exercise is a crucial part of our lives. Without regular exercise, we find that our bodies and minds aren’t as alert as they should be, which also goes deeper to impact some aspects of our lives such as quality of sleep which also translates into other aspects of our lives. When we exercise, we make sure our bodies stay in top condition and our minds also get the rest it deserves when we sleep.