I have been talking a lot about walking lately as I think it is a simple and effective way to exercise that most people can do. I then started to think does walking help you to sleep better? I guess if a walk in the morning can invigorate you and start you off for the day then why can the opposite not be true when you walk at night to help prepare you for sleep?
Walking to a good night's sleep
Struggling to sleep? Forget exercise and potions: a hot bath and a long walk is the best, says Professor Jim Horne.
Sleep scientists have, however, found various enjoyable waking activities which are effective in bringing a sounder sleep.
‘Brain exercise’ leading to deeper
sleep comes not so much from crosswords or suduku but from spending a
few hours walking in a changing, interesting environment, looking around
and absorbing what is going on. Window shopping, sightseeing; anything
new and different enough to hold your attention will do. Having
conversations and meeting new people adds the important ingredient of
novelty, putting further agreeable demands on one’s mind and brain. All
this new stimulation makes the brain work harder than staying indoors
surrounded by familiarity. Reading or watching TV only engages
relatively small parts of the brain, unlike getting out and about.
Similarly, seeing an exciting film is still too passive - one has to be
moving purposely, interacting with your surroundings. A multitasking
parent, juggling various activities at once, may be comforted to know
that their efforts may help them sleep well later.Source
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