11. Regulates your sleep quality
Exercise helps you fall asleep faster and improves quality by increasing slow-wave sleep. This type of deep sleep plays a vital role in your growth, memory, and immune function and is key to helping you wake yourself up feeling energized. And when you have a good sleep schedule, you’re more likely to be in a better mood, stay concentrated, and perform better at work.
More studies show that exercise can lessen the effects of sleep disorders. Even moderate-intensity resistance exercise and stretching have improved objective and subjective sleep in patients with chronic insomnia. Another study found that regularly scheduled exercise improved the sleep quality of older adults with age-related sleep disorders. Try using a sleep tracker to gauge quality and look for changes when you start exercising more.
12. Reduces chronic pain
Chronic pain is any pain that lasts beyond normal healing times, which is usually up to 12 weeks. This type of invisible illness can contribute to poor mental health and long-term disability.
Traditionally, treatment for chronic pain was rest and relaxation. But studies now demonstrate that, depending on the condition and its severity, physical activity and tailored exercise programs can alleviate chronic pain conditions.
While the results are highly individualized and there’s still room for more research, there actually aren’t usually any adverse effects of exercise on chronic pain, depending on your condition. If you’re dealing with long-term pain that affects your physical well-being, consult your doctor about a treatment plan involving physical activity.