When is the Best Time to Exercise?

When is the best time to exercise? That is a question we ask ourselves very often. Here’s a breakdown of every time frame, and its advantages and disadvantages, to help you make the right decision. It is important to note that the workout itself is what really counts. Doing a workout when it is most convenient for you is preferred over no workout at all.

Morning Workout

Advantages:

• The meals you eat after your workout will be absorbed for muscle recovery and for the creation of new muscle tissue. This reduces the chance for fat storage as the nutrients inside the food you eat are being used up.
• After your workout the body releases a hormone called serotonin, which is responsible for contentment. If you exercise early in the morning, you will start your day in a great mood.
• Your morning workouts tend to be more productive as there are fewer people in the gym then. You will not have to wait to use the machines or free weights, which helps if you want consistency.
• You are more likely to stick to your workouts when done in the morning, as there is less of a chance that “unexpected events” will interrupt your training or cause you to abruptly leave.

Disadvantages:

• If you are not a morning person you might not have the energy to exercise. This will significantly impact the intensity of your workout and chances are you will not be able to complete everything you intend to do.
• Your blood pressure is highest in the morning. So, if you have any heart problems, you might want to move your workout later in the day.
• After an intense workout your muscles need to rest. If you are immediately going to work after gym and the job requires physical work, morning exercise may not be for you.

Afternoon Workout

Advantages:

• Body temperatures are at their highest, meaning that there is less chance of an injury. It is still recommended to complete warm-ups before the start of any exercise program.
• Mental focus and physical functioning are at an optimal level, you are not too tired to get out of bed and not too exhausted from a hard day at work. This gives you the strength and endurance you need to maximize workout.
• Pain sensitivity is at its lowest level, which means that you can push yourself harder and train more intensely.
• An afternoon workout helps you de-stress and take a break from your daily, and sometimes stressful routine. You will feel refreshed and more energetic to go back to the unnerving work and complete unfinished tasks.

Disadvantages:

• Similarly to the morning workout, if your training is followed by heavy physical activity, you will need to give your body some time to recover.
• An afternoon workout may not be ideal as people are not able to get time off work or studies.

Evening Workouts

Advantages:

• Good for muscle size as the workout is often followed by rest or sleep.
• Performance is considerably high in the evening, even though it might feel you need to provide more input.
• Depending on your body and how well it adapts, you might find it easier to fall asleep after an evening workout. However, you may also experience the opposite effect – insomnia.

Disadvantages:

• You may not be able to provide your body with 2-3 meals after the workout, which may somewhat impact muscle building.
• Unexpected events/emergencies or low energy levels can act as obstacles to you finishing all your tasks in your exercise program.
• Gyms are usually packed in the evening, which means that you will often have to queue for machines, weights or other equipment.
• Evening workouts can interfere with your sleeping patterns as it increases your adrenaline levels, heart rate and body temperatures.

In the end, it is most important to find a realistic, consistent workout schedule, no matter what the time. It is better to have a workout at your most convenient time, then to have no workout at all.