Exercise-sleep study good news for busy people

Good news! A recent report has found that it doesn't matter when you exercise, as long as you do it.

Previously, the thought was that it was bad to exercise in the hours before bedtime, because it makes it harder to sleep that night.

However, a recent study in USA Today throws that notion out the window.

In fact, the study says that people who exercise any time of day report sleeping better than those who don't exercise at all. Only three percent of those surveyed who exercised late in the day said they slept worse.

For many, our schedules during the daytime are quite full. It's hard to squeeze 30 minutes out of the day for a little exercise. Mornings often start out hectic. Rush the family out the door, and then it's go, go, go: head to work, work, run errands – and suddenly, it's dinner time.

But exercise needs to be a part of that daily routine too.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are several benefits to exercise, and it's more than just weight control (although that's important too). Exercise combats health problems and disease, improves mood, boosts energy, promotes better sleep and can put an added spark back into one's sex life.

And it doesn't take much exercise to enjoy the benefits, either. A simple brisk 30-minute walk is enough to start seeing the benefits of exercising.

The evening exercise study shows that it doesn't matter if you get up at dawn or wait until just before bedtime – it's still possible to reap the benefits of exercise, without hurting one's ability to sleep.

Experts recommend people give evening or late-night exercise a try and caution that it's OK to adjust the timing and intensity until they find a time frame that works for them, noting that, overall, any exercise is better than none at all.

The study is good news for busy people.