Study suggests sleep may be more vital to long-term health than exercise

Interestingly, the researchers also found a connection between great rest and regular physical activity. Participants who slept six to seven hours per night recorded the highest step counts the next day. Too little sleep tended to make people less active, but very long sleep durations were tied to lower activity.

The key takeaway, the authors say, is that sufficient sleep appears to lead to increased physical activity rather than compete with it.

Like all studies, there are some gaps in the research.

The dataset relied heavily on wearable tech, which is more common in wealthier countries and among people who are already more likely to be health-conscious. Still, the consistency of the findings across tens of thousands of participants impressed researchers.

Given that modern life is so busy, the authors suggest that people focus on improving their sleep habits before jumping into a fitness regimine – if you’re forced to only pick one. It’s likely that getting more z’s will ensure exercise feels possible (and enjoyable) eventually, instead of just another task to squeeze into an intense week.

Danny Eckert, the study’s senior author, argues that small adjustments can have an outsized impact. Simple habits like cutting back on screens before bed, keeping a regular bedtime, and creating a quieter sleep environment can make a huge difference, boosting energy, motivation, and capacity for movement.

Sadly, we can’t rely on sleep alone to burn calories. But the evidence shows better sleep quality can improve motivation for sustainable physical activity.

On that note, you’re questioning whether you should hit the gym after a gruelling work day on less than eight hours of sleep… perhaps it’d be wiser to head home and hit the lights instead.

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