Five Ways Weight Lifting May Improve Sleep

Five Ways Weight Lifting May Improve Sleep

Strength training can improve sleep in several ways:

  1. Regulation of cortisol: Strength training can also help to regulate cortisol levels, a hormone that is released in response to stress. Elevated cortisol levels can interfere with sleep, so regulating cortisol through strength training may improve sleep quality.

  2. Increased physical fatigue: Strength training can increase physical fatigue, which can make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night.

  3. Increased Adenosine -  Exercise has been shown to increase adenosine levels in the brain. Adenosine is a natural chemical that is produced in the body and plays a role in promoting sleep with feelings of fatigue.

  4. Regulation of circadian rhythm: Strength training can also help to regulate the body's circadian rhythm, which is the internal biological clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Performing resistance training and other forms of exercise at the same time each day may help to establish a consistent sleep routine, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up at the same time each day.

  5. Improved body composition: Strength training can improve body composition by increasing muscle mass and reducing body fat. For some, improvements in body composition can decrease symptoms of sleep apnea, a condition that causes breathing disruptions during sleep.

One of the best resources on sleep, circadian rhythms and exercise is the Huberman Lab  podcast by Dr. Huberman, a neuroscientist at Stanford School of Medicine. 


Try weight lifting an Obshay periodically throughout your day to potentially improve your sleep.




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