Getting enough sleep is crucial for overall health and well-being. But did you know that the time you go to bed can also impact your physical activity levels the next day? A recent study led by Monash University has found that going to bed earlier than usual may actually help optimize physical activity the following day.
Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research looked at almost 20,000 participants who wore a biometric device called WHOOP for a year, resulting in nearly six million nights of data. The study focused on how both typical sleep habits and nightly fluctuations in sleep were linked to next-day physical activity levels.
The findings revealed that individuals who went to bed earlier tended to be more physically active. For example, those with a typical bedtime around 9 pm engaged in about 30 more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day compared to those who stayed up until 1 am. Even compared to individuals who typically went to bed at 11 pm, the 9 pm sleepers logged nearly 15 additional minutes of daily physical activity.
Lead author Dr. Josh Leota noted that individuals with later bedtimes may face challenges under conventional work schedules, leading to poorer sleep quality and reduced motivation for physical activity. The study also found that when people went to bed earlier than usual but maintained their regular amount of sleep, they recorded the highest levels of physical activity the next day.
These insights have significant implications for public health, suggesting that promoting earlier bedtimes could naturally encourage more active lifestyles. By recognizing the interconnectedness of sleep and physical activity, health campaigns could potentially lead to better outcomes for individual and community health.
A validation study involving almost 6,000 participants from the All of Us Research Program, using Fitbit data, supported these findings across diverse populations. Senior author Dr. Elise Facer-Childs highlighted the powerful relationship between sleep timing and physical activity, emphasizing the importance of understanding how these behaviors interact in everyday life.
In conclusion, the study underscores the importance of both sleep and physical activity for overall health. By prioritizing earlier bedtimes, individuals may be more likely to increase their physical activity levels the following day. This holistic approach could pave the way for healthier lifestyles and improved well-being in the long run.
