

Working out at night may even mean better performance, increased endurance levels, more time exercising, and more benefits of exercise on your body.Ī small study found that the participants performed better and 20% longer during their evening workout session than their morning session. So, while working out at night can still provide benefits to sleep, it’s important to plan them for at least 2 hours before bedtime. However, exercise ending within 30 minutes to 2-hours before bed may decrease REM sleep. A recent review concludes that high-intensity exercise performed 2-4 hours before bed is unlikely to disrupt sleep. However, it’s important to remember that timing matters. Likewise, a 2011 study suggests that vigorous late-night exercise only increases a person’s heart rate and doesn’t affect sleep quality. A 2019 study found that a single exercise session 90 minutes before bedtime has no effect on body temperature and doesn’t disrupt sleep. Interestingly, a 2013 cross-sectional study suggests that there’s no relationship between exercising during the evening and poor sleep and mentions that exercising in the evenings should no longer be discouraged.Īnother point often made when recommending exercising during the early hours of the day is that exercise elevates body temperature, which tells your body that it should be active and reduces a person’s ability to wind down. Numerous studies also suggest that exercising in the evenings may still bring similar benefits to sleep.Ī 2020 study found that moderate exercise 4 hours before bedtime didn’t disturb sleep and may help people who don’t get sufficient rest sleep better. In fact, exercising in the evening may even help you sleep better.Įxercising leads to positive sleep outcomes -improved sleep efficiency, deep sleep, and sleep quality. If you’ve heard that exercising in the evening may leave you too energetic to sleep well at night, know that it’s not as simple as it appears. 53% of participants of a survey report that exercising makes them feel good, 35% say it improves their mood, and 30% admit it reduces their stress levels. What’s more, the effect of exercising in promoting relaxation is immediate and long-lasting. Numerous studies suggest that people report feeling calmer after exercising for just 20 to 30 minutes, and this feeling may last even several hours after exercise.

So if you’re looking for a way to offload all of the mental exhaustion from being out all day, ease your mind, and prepare yourself for a good night’s rest, having a sweat session may do the trick. Pros of working out at nightĮxercising is often a challenging but rewarding activity that benefits our bodies and minds in multiple ways. What exactly are the pros and cons of working out at night? But your routine just can’t accommodate this lifestyle recommendation. You may have heard that the best time of the day to get your daily sweat sessions is in the early hours of the day.

The next issue is: Is working out before bedtime ideal? When is the best time of the day to exercise? Pros and Cons of Working Out at Night

To fix this, some have dedicated evening or night time to working out. About 1.4 billion adults in the global population don’t maintain the recommended physical activity levels.įor many, there just isn’t enough time during the day to move about or exercise. 150 to 300 minutes of exercise a week may sound achievable to some, but data from the World Health Organization (WHO) prove otherwise. Generally, working out may increase a person’s life span, help them live vibrant lives, and improve their physical, mental, emotional, and sleep health.Ī person typically needs 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week to enjoy these benefits of exercise on health and wellbeing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that physical activity could prevent 1 in 10 premature deaths, 1 in 8 cases of breast cancer, 1 in 12 cases of diabetes, 1 in 15 cases of heart disease, and 1 in 8 cases of colorectal cancer. Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share via Email Working Out Before Bed (Pros and Cons)
