A new study from the University of South Australia has revealed a direct correlation between the quality of one's sleep and the structure of their daily activities, with exercise emerging as a key factor.
Involving 1168 children and 1360 adults, the study found that individuals who engaged in higher levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity experienced less troubled sleep, reduced tiredness, and overall improved sleep quality. Dr. Lisa Matricciani, a researcher at UniSA, emphasized the significance of understanding the factors influencing sleep quality for overall health and well-being.
"When people think about sleep quality, they tend to focus on adjustments immediately before bedtime – for example, avoiding screens, not eating too much, and avoiding alcohol – but our research looks beyond this to the range of activities we undertake during the day," said Dr. Matricciani.
The study's findings suggest that increasing moderate to vigorous physical activity can lead to reduced tiredness, improved sleep quality, and less troubled sleep. Dr. Matricciani also noted that simply making more time for sleep predicted more restless sleep, highlighting the complexity of the relationship between daily activities and sleep patterns.
The implications of this research are significant, as Dr. Matricciani pointed out, "Everyone wants a good night’s sleep. If it’s simply a matter of being more active during the day, then it may be a relatively achievable goal for most of us."
