You may already enjoy pulling your 7 speed bike out of the garage and going for a ride just for fun or to get some fresh air, but did you know that your biking hobby could be helping you sleep better, too? Perhaps surprisingly, squeezing in a little time to ride your bike every day can have benefits for your sleep cycle and may even help to regulate important hormones that help you get a better night’s sleep. If you’re curious to learn more about how biking can improve your sleep cycle, or if you’re considering picking up biking as a hobby for its health benefits, check out these fun facts.
Morning Biking Sessions Can Help Give You Daytime Energy
In some cases, you may find yourself unable to sleep at night because you still have too much pent-up energy. If this sounds like your situation, just getting on your hybrid bike and going for a quick ride every morning could help solve the problem. Biking is a high-energy and often strenuous form of exercise that can give you energy during the daytime and help you wind down at night. If you make a habit of biking first thing in the morning, you could help to balance your energy levels and feel more tired by the end of the day.
Biking Exercise May Play a Role in Keeping Essential Hormones Balanced
Another surprising sleep benefit of biking is that no matter where your sixthreezeroevryjourney takes you, you could be helping to regulate your hormones as you pedal. Biking, much like other intensive forms of exercise, has been shown to help keep essential hormones balanced. If your sleep problems are due to hormonal imbalances, this means that taking up biking could quickly start to make a difference. Some of the key hormones that a biking workout could help keep at healthy levels include, but are not limited to, the following.
- Melatonin
- Oxytocin
- Cortisol
It May Help Relieve Stress and Promote Relaxation
Another common reason many people suffer from sleep problems is excessive stress that can impede a good night’s rest. If you deal with stress or anxiety, relaxing and letting go of some stress could help you sleep better. Fortunately, biking has been shown to promote relaxation and can act as a highly effective outlet for stress relief and self care. If you choose to pick up biking in the hopes of less nighttime stress, you may experience:
- Lower overall stress levels
- Improved mood and easier everyday relaxation
- An easier time calming down to fall asleep at night
Besides offering devotees fresh air, good exercise and boundless fun, biking can also help regulate key hormones, lower stress levels and improve sleep cycles. Whether you’ve noticed the sleep benefits of regular biking yourself or whether you’re simply curious about the health perks of learning how to ride a bike, these essential sleep benefits could make biking a healthier hobby than you realized. The next time you’re having trouble getting to sleep, consider going for a relaxing bike ride!
