For years we've been told that exercise improves sleep unless you work out close to bedtime, in which case it can have the opposite effect. But according to recent research, fitness can be great whenever. We asked
Kelly Glazer Baron, PhD, an assistant professor of neurology at Northwestern University, to explain.
Q: I can really exercise any time of day?
A: When insomniacs did 30 minutes of exercise as late as 7 p.m. three times per week, we found that it actually improved their sleep. A separate poll also found that working out within four hours of bedtime won't keep most people up.
Q: So will it cure my insomnia?
A: The subjects in our experiment slept 45 minutes longer and reported having
higher-quality sleep. But more research needs to be done to determine how much exercise is needed to maintain those effects.
Q: When can i expect to see results?
A: In about two to four months. We don't know why it takes that long; it could be due to improvements in mood, which take time to have a lasting effect on your sleep patterns.
—Jessica Migala
Exercising before bed will keep you awake, plus more sleep myths
