Why You Should Never Exercise Before Bed

Let’s get real for a moment: we all struggle with getting enough exercise. Whether it’s due to a packed schedule, general laziness, or just pure hatred for running (me), there never seems to be enough time in the day to break a sweat.

Oh, but then there’s the motivation, out of the blue, when you’re ready to settle down for the night! It hits you, urging you to at least do something before the day’s out, just so, you know, you can say you did it.

This scenario is way too familiar for me, and I’m sure it is for a lot of you as well. After having spent the day dealing with work, family obligations or studying – in other words, actively not exercising – you try to cram in that last-minute workout before bed, in the hopes of feeling accomplished and productive. Or maybe this is your regular routine.

However you got here, sorry to burst your bubble but exercising before bed isn’t one of your better ideas. Let’s explore why.

7 reasons why you shouldn’t exercise before bed

1. It can mess with your sleep cycle

Exercise, while it boosts endorphins and overall well-being, also increases heart rate and body temperature – both of which work against a good night’s rest. It takes time for them to decrease again after exercising so doing it just before going to bed might make you toss and turn until they do.

2. Adrenaline is not conducive to relaxation

Along with boosting endorphins, exercise also releases adrenaline into our system, giving us increased energy levels – which makes sense in the morning or afternoon but not so much when it’s time to wind down for the day. Adrenaline makes us feel alert, and that isn’t useful when you should be busy getting ready to sleep.

3. Delayed digestion

Eating a big meal before bed is never a good idea, and neither is exercising after eating said meal, as exercise can cause digestion issues such as heartburn, bloating and discomfort – something that can definitely mess with your quality of sleep.

4. Negative impact on the circadian rhythm

When we do basically anything close to bedtime, our brains attribute that as a signal of wakefulness and alertness. Exercising might not only keep us awake longer than anticipated but also make it more difficult to fall asleep in subsequent nights due to altering our body’s natural rhythms.

5. You might be tempted to have a late-night snack

It’s a well-known fact that exercising makes you hungry. While some may prefer not to eat before bed, others might feel the need for a snack after exercising. This is never good a good thing if you’re trying to get in shape. Late-night snacking is typically not recommended as it can lead to weight gain.

6. Increased risk of injury

Exercising before bed increases the likelihood of injury since our bodies are already primed for rest and recovery at that time. You might be more sluggish or fatigued than usual, which can lead to injuries like pulling a muscle or spraining your wrist or ankle.

7. How productive will you really be at that time?

If you’re someone who likes to work out at night because that’s the only time you have available, understand this: working out is not a task that you should attempt halfheartedly.

That’s not how fitness works! You need to push yourself and make an effort in order to see results. But are you really doing so if your day has already drained all of your energy?

Final thought

Exercising is a great way to relieve stress, improve health and overall well-being. So, I get it, putting it off till bedtime does make some sense. It’s also nice to be able to burn off some of the calories you consumed throughout the day.

But, don’t be too quick to dismiss the potential negative effects. While you might feel good in the moment, by exercising before bed you’re potentially disrupting your sleep cycle, upsetting your digestive system and impacting the overall quality of rest you’re able to get. You have to ask yourself: is it worth it?

If you’re still looking to fit in a workout, try doing so earlier in the day when your body is naturally already waking up and energizing itself. You’ll get all the benefits of exercise without worsening sleep quality or giving rope to bad habits like late-night snacking.