Why You Should Walk Outside for Better Sleep

We’ve been talking a lot lately in the SimplyFit Club about the role sleep can play in your energy, workouts and overall health, and going over ways to help make the quality of your sleep even better.

Did you know that going for a walk outside can help wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready for the day? Here are some 3 ways that walking outside can help you sleep better! 

Tip No. 1! Regular movement and exercise can help improve your sleep. Not only does it help tire you out  to make you fall asleep, it will also help the QUALITY of your sleep.

 In fact, some studies show it actually can help improve your deep sleep phase, which is when your body helps you physically recover and recharge from the day. 

 So not only are you able to fall asleep faster, but you are able to sleep even better and feel more rested.  

Tip No. 2 is all about stress. Getting outside for a change of scenery can help you cut stress.

As you know, too much stress can cause your body’s hormone system to get out of whack with your cortisol levels rising at the wrong time of the day. 

Cortisol is one of your body’s fight-or-flight hormones, which is a great thing to have when you need it … but it can really do a number on you when you don’t have anything to actually fight against! 

When you have too much of it at the wrong time (which WAY too many of us do), it can definitely interfere with your sleep. 

That’s why it’s a good idea to take little “destress” breaks during the day, and going for a walk is a great way to do that. 

Getting outside for a break lets you enjoy the sun and the outdoors, get a new perspective on things, or just get some fresh air! It’s one of my favorite things to do. 

Tip 3 doesn’t get enough respect, if you ask me. It’s all about the power of natural light. 

Letting your body get some sunshine every day will help keep your body’s natural internal clock running properly. 

Your body has its own internal clock, sometimes called your circadian rhythm, and stress, lack of light, or poor sleep quality can confuse it. 

One way to help keep your internal timer tuned is to let your body get some sunshine! 

This is also a good idea if you are traveling to another time zone. Get some natural light as soon as possible so your body recognizes when it’s daytime, and also when it’s time to go to sleep. 

Here’s another light-related tip to help supercharge your internal body clock… 

As soon as you wake up in the morning, turn on the lights or get some natural light, so your body gets the signal that it’s morning and it’s time to go! Who knew that drinking your morning coffee on the deck had some bonus benefits? 

On the flip side, an hour or so before bed, dim the lights so your body knows it’s time to wind down. 

Let me recap!

Tip 1 Get regular exercise to help you fall asleep and improve your sleep quality.

Tip 2 Take a break during the day to help destress and relax, and

Tip 3 Enjoy some natural sunlight to help keep your body’s internal clock on time and running right.

 I hope this has been a help to you, and that you get a great night of sleep tonight! 

For more tips on getting your best sleep ever, join the SimplyFit Club today and get instant access to my new ebook Supercharge Your Sleep!