Some people find evening workouts as spiritual
enlightenment. For others, it’s just a
necessity. Some of us have long days, so
the only time we can sweat is in the evenings. Is it a perilous move to incline
your heart rate just a couple hours before bed? The answer is NO.
So why doesn’t exercise, which can feel as stimulating as a
cup of coffee, disrupt our sleep goals?
Most people experience a drop in those stimulating hormones like
cortisol and adrenaline within an hour or so after their workout. This puts the body in that relaxed,
ready-to-sleep state. Loose muscles and
a dropping body temp can relax you as well.
So while you probably don’t want to get in bed a half hour after
exercising, most people can get solid shuteye if they lay down an hour or two
later.
However, everybody reacts differently to working out. Some
people simply have a hard time winding down after an evening workout,
especially if they just kicked butt or were doing something super stimulating.
If late night sweats give you a pick-me-up, skip it. If you’re don’t normally sleep well or if you
struggle with insomnia, a morning or early evening workout might be your best
shot at retrieving some of those lost z’s.
There are other plenty of bonuses to evening workouts to
consider. They can keep you from overindulging
or drinking after work, and they’re a great way to release any tension that’s
built up at your nine-to-five. Just make sure you’re eating enough and
hydrating sufficiently so that you don’t wake up in the middle of the night
with a rumbling stomach after burning all those calories. Having a small protein snack before bed can
help.
Whatever workout period you prefer — morning or evening —
the key to better sleep is regularity. If the thought of waking up before the
sun rises to exercise and still get to work on time stresses you out, don’t
force it. Do what works best for your schedule, character, and mindset. The rarer
probable excuses you can give yourself for missing workouts, the better.
