Do your resolutions for 2018 involve adding more exercise to your weekly routine? If you’re struggling to muster that much-needed motivation to get the ball rolling this month, then we have a theory here at Mattressman that we’d like to test…
Consider this: how did you sleep last night? In fact, how have you slept all week? If the answers to these questions are anything other than ‘well’ or you don’t have a dodgy mattress that you can blame, you might want to think about how exercising can benefit the quality of your kip.
Exercise can reduce stress and anxiety, and these feelings can often contribute to a restless night’s sleep. Fortunately, anything from a light jog to a few stretches can reduce your cortisol levels, cortisol is the hormone produced by the body in response to stress. Not only that but exercising during the day can have a really positive effect on your well-being and mental health, which is good news if anxiety plays a large part in keeping you awake at night.
After a healthy dose of exercise, the drop in your cortisol levels should mean that you start to feel more relaxed and within a few hours, you should start to feel tired and ready for a good night’s sleep.
Regular exercise can also prevent you from feeling sleepy during the day. Taking a midday nap every once in a while isn’t unusual but while a short afternoon nap is unlikely to impact your sleep negatively, anything longer can leave you feeling wide awake when bedtime comes around. So where does exercise come in? Well, if hitting the gym or yoga mat isn’t your thing, a brisk walk at lunchtime or getting up from your desk every few hours can make you feel much more alert during the day, which means that you’re less likely to slink off for a cheeky nap and throw off your bedtime routine.
It has been proven that people who exercise for 30-40 minutes four times a week are also more likely to feel energised during the day and sleep well at night, but choose the approach that best suits you.
Whether you’re planning regular gym visits or just want to add some light exercise to your weekly routine, you’ll not only be helping your overall health but your sleep too.
