New research from The University of Texas at Austin suggests that exercising more frequently — ideally every day — could improve sleep quality, particularly the kind of deep, restorative sleep that supports better mood and mental health.
New research from The University of Texas at Austin suggests that exercising more frequently — ideally every day — could improve sleep quality, particularly the kind of deep, restorative sleep that supports better mood and mental health.
The study, published in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health, analyzed data from UT students who wore Fitbits for several months. Unlike earlier research that focused on total exercise time, this study looked at how often people exercised.
“We wanted to know whether it matters if someone spreads out their exercise over the week versus doing it all at once, like a ‘weekend warrior,’” said Benjamin Baird, a research assistant professor of psychology in the College of Liberal Arts. “And for sleep health, frequency does seem to matter.”
Chris Corral, who recently earned a master’s degree in health behavior and health education from UT and co-led the study, explained the research builds on earlier findings linking exercise to non-REM, or deep sleep. This deep sleep, especially early in the night, is when the body does much of its physical and mental recovery.
Read More: University of Texas at Austin
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