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If you find yourself tossing and turning in the night, randomly waking up at 3 a.m., and having a hard time catching z’s, all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other. According to new research, people who walk just a little bit more than average get better sleep than their more stationary counterparts, The New York Times reported. We’re not talking 10,000 steps a day here—less than half of that is all you need.
Published in the journal Sleep Health, the study observed 59 participants, with an average age of 49, who had self-reported low levels of activity. They were given fitness-tracking devices and encouraged to move more to see how a little extra exercise might affect their sleep. The results showed that higher daily active minutes correlated with better sleep quality (though not quantity)—on average just 3,000 steps made a difference.
If you don’t have time for a full-on workout, taking a simple stroll around your neighborhood is an easy and relaxing way to start your nighttime routine, just like Golde founder Trinity Mouzon Wofford does. Now about those emails that are keeping you up at night…
See more sleep advice: Are You Napping Enough? Plot Twist: The Key to Better Sleep Is Not a Bedtime—It’s a Wake-Up Time Why Are These Pillows Amazon Best Sellers?