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Return To Exercise Article Archive   Finding The Best Time Of Day To Exercise For A Good Nights Sleep By Ruth Ritchie One of the best natural ways to get better sleep is to make sure that you get enough exercise during the day. Studies have shown that moderate daily exercise helps to relieve stress and, as a result, helps to improve the quality of sleep. There is, however, a debate about what is the best time of day to exercise when a good night\'s sleep is your ultimate goal. One study of post-menopausal women found that exercising in the morning worked better for combating insomnia than exercising later in the day. Another study, this time focusing on active young men, showed that they were relatively unaffected by performing vigorous exercise as little as thirty minutes before bedtime. It appears from these two studies that the timing of exercise for its maximum benefit as a sleep aid is dependent on the individual and the type of exercise being performed. How does exercise help you sleep better? One way experts believe exercise helps you sleep better is by raising your body temperature. The thought is that since our body temperature needs to be lowered for us to sleep well, by exercising before bedtime the post-exercise cooling off period actually prepares us for sleep. In this way exercise has much the same effect on our preparations for sleep as does a warm bath. The second way exercise acts as a remedy for insomnia is as a stress reliever. Researchers have found that many people who suffer from insomnia also have higher than normal amounts of stress hormones in their blood. While exercise initially increases these hormones, the long term effect is that hours after you\'re finished, the level of stress hormones is actually lower than if you hadn\'t exercised at all. This is one of the reasons that experts suggest mid-afternoon is the optimal time to exercise if you\'re using it as a remedy for insomnia. The bottom line is that only you can tell when the best time to exercise is for you. This is where a sleep diary can help. If you record your exercise times and quality of sleep for two to three weeks, you should be able to tell which times give you the best results. The main thing to remember is that no matter how or when you do it, regular exercise is one of the best ways to overcome insomnia naturally. Ruth Ritchie is a recovering insomniac who has found ways to sleep better without medication. For more natural sleep remedies, visit http://www.ineedmoresleep.com keywords: best time of day to exercise | good night's sleep | insomnia | natural remedy Harbinger Exercise Mat

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