The best time of day to exercise? Spoiler alert – it’s the time that works best for you.
Whether you’re just starting out with an exercise routine or are already a pro at it, you’ve probably wondered what the best time to exercise is at some point or another.
Morning workouts may seem like the best, but research has found that late afternoon or evening workout sessions have their own merits too.
So here’s some insight to help you figure out what’s the best time to work out and why you might want to change your routine. Read on…
The Best Time to Exercise is in the Morning
If you’re someone who tends to struggle with being consistent with your workout routine, and often finds yourself committing to the other things in life while slowly letting your workout plan drift to the side until you completely forget about it, morning workouts could be great.
Working out in the morning helps you finish off your commitment to your body at the beginning of the day so that you’ll be less likely to procrastinate when distractions mount. It’s truly a way to put yourself first.
In addition to helping you keep your promise to yourself, adopting an early fitness routine could also be better for your health.
Experts believe that working out in the morning can give your metabolism a jump start, and can also stimulate the release of endorphins, which improve your mood throughout the day.
Early morning exercising also helps you manage stress better which can make work flow more smoothly – without needing to drink twelve cups of coffee before noon.
When you exercise before breakfast, your body essentially burns more fat as opposed to when you exercise later in the day, making it a great choice for those looking to lose weight.
It has also been found that morning workouts can help you combat that energy slump in the afternoon. Need we say more?
Or Maybe the Best Time to Exercise is in the Evening
If you’re someone who tends to have a super busy and early morning and can’t seem to find a way to sneak in a 15-20-minute exercise session without compromising on your sleep, evening workouts could be a great idea. You’ll be done with all (or most) of your tasks and can work out the stress and frustrations of the day by getting some physical activity.
Evening workouts are very helpful in allowing you to blow off some steam. Believe it or not, they can actually de-stress and relax you helping you sleep better later on.
Because your body temperature is higher in the evening, your muscles and joints will be up to 20% more flexible, which reduces the strain of exercising. Chances of suffering from an exercise injury are typically lower when you work out in the evening as opposed to in the morning when your muscles are just warming up after sleep.
Some experts also believe that your evening workouts can be stronger and more high endurance because that’s the time of day when your body can put in more effort.
When you work out in the evening, you might also find it easier to fall asleep, since you’ll be tired after exercising. This can be an added and perfect trick for those suffering from insomnia.
Keep in mind though that sometimes people have the opposite reaction to evening exercise and it can make them more awake and less able to sleep. <–Said from personal experience!
When Should I Work Out?
All in all, both morning and evening are great times to work out, but it really depends on YOU and your daily routine.
While a 5 am spin class may be ideal for some, it may cut someone else’s sleep cycle too short.
An 8:30 am run might be better for moms who drop their kids off at school but is typically too late for someone who needs to be in the office by 9.
The 5:30 pm strength class might work great for a young couple, but it could be smack in the middle of dinner time for those with kids.
That 7 pm Tabata class might be awesome for the person who works night shifts, but for the early riser, it might make them too awake to sleep.
You have to decide which one’s the best for you and then stick with it.
In the end, being consistent with your workout is all that really matters – not the time when you do it!
