The Best Time to Exercise
The question is often asked and researched: what time is best to exercise: morning, after lunch, after work?
Here is the answer: whatever time of day works best for you.
While there are some minor differences when is ideal for the time on the clock, realistically, there is no actual physical benefit to certain times of the day.
Exercise when it is best for YOU.
I prefer to exercise first thing in the morning because of all the issues that can come up in the day. For me, the benefit of exercising first thing in the morning is getting it done with no one else to stop me from my plans. But some people can’t exercise in the morning. They aren’t morning people, don’t have time before work, they must get the kids off to school. So there are all kinds of legitimate reasons.
Some people prefer the middle of the day, going at “lunchtime.” It helps to have a buddy system (meet up), which breaks up your day, especially if you have a sedentary job. I suggest that people spend at least half of their lunch break going for a walk. Then, if you have a flexible schedule, you can take more time or do a more strenuous exercise, do a group fitness class, or head off to the gym for a workout.
Doing the exercise in the afternoon-evening is a great way to guarantee that you don’t work too late! Ha. Many people like it since they can go home and have dinner right afterward.
If you want to exercise later in the evening, that is fine. However, perhaps don’t do higher-intensity cardio exercise within an hour or two of your bedtime since you may have trouble getting to sleep right away. But it may not bother you. There are several 24-hour gyms, allowing you to exercise any time, even in the late evening or at midnight; if that is your thing, that is just fine.
Just ensure that you don’t blow off your appointment with yourself because of someone else.
We all have the “best” time of day to exercise: the time you WILL do it: no excuses, no interruptions, no one else to sabotage your plans. So put yourself first, take care of yourself, and make it a priority.
Research does suggest that one time of day over another is more beneficial, but the differences and potential advantages are slight. Bottom line: nearly all of us need to exercise more. So go!
