Exercise could be your answer for an improved sleeping pattern

A lack of sleep can disrupt our lives in many ways and for many different reasons. For some of us, overwhelming stress and anxiety can keep our eyes permanently fixed on the ceiling. Other may suffer sleep disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnoea.

Whatever the reason, it’s no joy to experience. It’s bad enough at night, but it’s not much fun feeling like a zombie the following day either.

 

The low-down on sleep

As you likely already know, the relationship between fitness and sleep is a well-documented one. In fact, there’s substantial evidence to show that exercise will contribute to a healthier and more restful slumber.

We’re not just talking the quantity of sleep. Each stage of your sleep is important. If one stage suffers, your body will overcompensate the next night, wreaking havoc on your sleeping patterns. Exercise balances the amount of time spent in each stage. Quality is just as important.

 

Grabbing forty winks

So just why does sleep aid exercise so well? For one, it knackers our body and mind out leaving us well and truly ready to plop down for the night.

Many of us will also find our fitness routine kicks up a gear during more stressful points in life because exercise plays a massive part in releasing feel-good hormones. After a good group exercise session, you’ll find you spend less time awake at night warding off unpleasant thoughts.

There are longer-term effects for sufferers of sleep disorders. Sleep apnoea is often linked to obesity due to excess tissue in the back of the throat. A solution for this is to lose weight which, unsurprisingly, is where exercise comes in very handy.

Likewise, insomnia sufferers have been known to frequent the gym. A study published in the Sleep Medicine journal found that insomniacs experienced 85 more minutes of sleep each night after just 4 months in the gym.

 

If you’re struggling to catch some Z’s, as little as 10 minutes of aerobic exercise a day could be all you need to sleep soundly at night. Get started with an Impulse Leisure membership and speak to our professional team for more advice on how to improve your sleeping pattern.