The Fix for Fatigue - Sleep or a Workout?

Photo: planetchopstick, Flickr

Finding a good balance between snoozing and exercising is complicated. "Sleep and exercise have a very intimate relationship; we simply cannot have one without the other," says holistic nutritionist Sarah Brown at That's Fit.ca. But if you're tired, it's usually a workout you need, not a nap. "Exercise can help us sleep longer and more deeply making us feel more alert when we wake up," they say.

Here's what you need to know about fitting in fitness and nixing the nap:

Morning is the best workout time. So get your body out of bed to jump start your metabolism, relieve your stress and improve your mood. It'll help you sleep better at night.

Late afternoon cardio is good too. It raises the body temperature above normal and then drops about four to five hours later, a signal to the body that it's time to sleep.

Avoid a vigorous sweat session after dinner. This is when you body needs to wind down, not gear up.

For more tips on sleeping tight, take a look at what AOL Health has to say about catching some quality shut-eye.