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WALK YOUR WAY TO BETTER SLEEP
It has been five weeks since we challenged you to be "Fit Over 50". How are you doing? If you are averaging anywhere close to 10,000 steps a day, you have walked over 300,000 steps. Not only should this have been making you feel better when you are awake, but also helping you to sleep better.
Millions of Americans suffer from poor sleep. Being active throughout the day seems to help you relax more at night and sleep better. This will result in:
• Clearer thoughts
• More energy
• A positive outlook on life
• Less stress
• A stronger immune system
The reason that daily physical activity will make you sleep better is because it:
• Helps to loosen tight muscles
• Reduces stress
• Promotes longer sleep periods
• Decreases depression and anxiety
If you want to walk yourself to sleep, it takes practice and a slow start. You want to ease into your walking program so you don't end up getting sore and not being able to sleep. Ideally, you should walk at a pace that gets your heart rate elevated, but doesn't leave you out of breath. You should also start out with a short distance and build on it. By using a pedometer, you can measure how much you normally walk each day, and then add a little to that each day with an ultimate goal of 10,000 steps a day.
If you do end up having trouble sleeping, just get up and walk around for a little while. And when you get back into bed, you should fall right off to sleep.
Have a great sleep tonight, and let's stay "Fit Over 50".
Hank Boerner is the Director of NMMC's Wellness Center in Tupelo. Every Wednesday on WTVA News Live at Five he offers helpful tips for a healthier lifestyle.
Visit North Mississippi Medical Center's site for information on the AARP and NMMC Walking Program.
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