Fiber helps with constipation because it “increases the weight and size of your stool and softens it,” according to the Mayo ...

Light exercise before bed can gently encourage peristalsis, the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through your intestines.

A laxative could help move the bowels, but it may not address the source of the constipation. So, laxatives might be used until the cause of the constipation is understood or solved.