Exercise is good for you, but when is the best time to hit the gym? That's a question that many of us ask ourselves at various points throughout the day. It's not always easy to find the time in our busy lives—after all, it takes more than just a few minutes to fully work out. But if you're looking to optimize your workout, you'll want to consider when your body will be most receptive and responsive to exercise.
Early morning
The best time to exercise is early in the morning.
- The benefits of exercising early:
- You'll be more focused and productive throughout the day if you start your day with a quick workout. Studies show that people who exercise first thing in the morning are more likely to stick with their fitness regime than those who wait until later in the day or evening. Exercising first thing gets your blood pumping and helps you wake up, which can make it easier for you to focus on tasks later on in the day!
- Many people find it difficult to get up early--but there are tons of ways around this issue: try setting an alarm clock earlier than usual; set aside sometime before work (or school) begins; drink coffee before going out for a run; wear comfortable clothes that are easily accessible (no need to change into something fancy!). Try incorporating these tricks into your routine until waking up becomes second nature! -
Late afternoon
There are many benefits to exercising at different times of the day. For example, working out in the morning can help you wake up and feel energized for the rest of your day while exercising at night allows you to avoid traffic and get home faster. It's important to find what works best for you--and once you do, stick with it!
- The best time to exercise: late afternoon
- Benefits of exercising in the afternoon: less crowded gyms; more convenient parking spaces; fewer distractions (no one wants to be around someone who smells like sweat).
- How do I find my personal best time? You'll have to experiment a bit until something clicks for you--but don't give up! If nothing else works out for now, try again next year when circumstances might look different (like a new job/school schedule).
Nighttime
If you're a beginner and want to take advantage of the low-intensity benefits of nighttime exercise, this is the best time for you. If you're an experienced athlete who wants to work out without having to worry about traffic or crowds, nighttime might be right for your workout too! Nighttime workouts also have some unique benefits:
- They can help with sleep quality and insomnia issues.
- They are less likely than morning workouts (if done correctly) at causing soreness that prevents full participation in activities later in the day/week/month--or even years down the line! This is because exercising at night helps release growth hormone naturally, which helps repair muscles and reduce inflammation while also keeping stress hormones at bay so they don't interfere with deep restful sleep later on during recovery periods between workouts.
Pick a time that works for you, but don't neglect important rest periods.
- Pick a time that works for you, but don't neglect important rest periods.
- Don't overdo it.
- You don't want to wake up your partner with all the jumping jacks, push-ups, and sit-ups you're doing in their bed at 3 am! That said...
- High-intensity workouts should be done no more than once or twice per week (and only when you can get an hour's sleep before starting). Lower-intensity workouts are better suited for daily use because they don't leave you feeling as sore afterward and allow more recovery time between sessions.
- Make sure not only that your schedule permits it but also that it's convenient enough so that getting dressed doesn't take half an hour! If possible, try waking up 1-2 hours before starting work so that when 6 am hits on Monday morning (for example), everything feels fresh instead of like another day off from fun stuff like sleeping until noon...which brings us back around again: make sure whatever workout routine works best fits into YOUR life first rather than trying something new just because someone else did it successfully themselves!
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many different times of day to work out. You can choose the one that works best for you and your schedule. But it's important not to neglect important rest periods, which can be just as beneficial as exercise itself!
