Finding time to exercise can be a challenge for most people. Exercise is important, but everyone also has lives with jobs, families, significant others, friends, household duties, errands and, you know, the need for rest and sleep. So, hypothetically speaking, in a perfect world, if someone had endless free time, when would be the ideal time to work out?! Both morning and evenings have health benefits and potential pitfalls, but for most people, the right time to exercise is not about how many calories you burn or how much weight you lift -it’s more about how you feel when exercising and how exercise fits into your daily schedule.
Decide for yourself! Below are some benefits to consider with you routines:
Morning Benefits:
-People who exercise in the morning are often more consistent simply because morning workouts leave less room for excuses. If you workout first thing in the morning, you can’t skip it in the evening with silly excuses!
-People have found that they sleep more deeply or have stronger and my consistent sleep patterns after getting into the morning workout routine.
-Can have a strong effect on your mood throughout the day! Research has shown that morning athletes are remarkably more ‘chipper’ through out the day- the endorphins or “happy chemicals” your body produces in response to exercise can keep your mood elevated long past your hour-long workout.
-When exercising on an empty stomach, this can induce a faster fat burn as well. your body must utilize fat stores that already exist to fuel exercise, rather than use the food you just ate as fuel.
Evening Benefits:
-Most people function better a little later in the day- after they’ve settled in had their coffee and meals! Muscle strength, flexibility, power output and endurance are all better in the evening than they are in the morning. Overall physical fitness is performed at a higher intensity.
-Have a tough day at work? Well, evening workouts can help you reduce stress after a rough day! Working out at night can really help you blow off some steam.
-If you have some evening or nighttime habits you want to replace – like snacking, drinking, smoking or watching too much TV – allow exercise to swoop in and take their place. Once you get into the practice of exercising at night, you might notice that you don’t even miss your old habits.
In the end, best time to work out is whenever you can! We don’t all have schedules that allow for a 90-minute workouts, with a 20 minute cool down stretches and meditation directly after . If your only time of day to exercise is before work, then morning is best. If you reserve physical activity for packed evenings, there is a good chance you won’t ever get to it. Likewise, if you can only fit 20 minutes of exercise into your day right before you get ready for bed, that’s the best time to work out. Each hour has its drawbacks and benefits, it’s up to you to decide when is right for yourself! Consistency is key, and regularly workout will show you the best results every time!
