With the cold weather in full swing, you could be forgiven for staying under those blankets just a little while longer in the mornings. But, did you know that the colder weather means that now is the perfect time to exercise?

When it comes to our health, getting enough sleep is as important as eating properly and exercising. But with more than a third of the UK population experiencing trouble with getting to sleep it can sometimes be a battle to get the balance right. 

Fatigue from restless nights, working shift patterns and jetlag can lead to an inability to keep up a regular workout routine. This lack of exercise in turn impacts on the ability to sleep properly and a vicious cycle occurs. This is because physical activity is proven to have a positive impact on sleep, promoting sleep efficiency and reducing the time it takes to get to sleep. 

So, what happens when we work out in the evening?

If you’ve ever been through a particularly strenuous workout or an exhausting series of endurance tests, you will know that turning your brain off at the end of the day can be super tricky. Sure, your body wants to sleep, but your mind can keep racing for hours and hours, causing you to stress out and lose out on much-needed rest and recovery time.

A recent survey shows that a huge 43% of respondents failed to get at least 7 hours of sleep per day and at least 97% reported experiencing at least one of the nine “fatigue risk factors” associated with sleep deprivation.