5 Reasons to Exercise

(In the Morning, Afternoon or Evening)

Regardless of whether you are working at home, in an office or traveling for work, staying healthy by getting physical activity and exercise is important. But when is the best time? Morning? Afternoon? Evening? Just like with diets, there is no single formula for best time of day to exercise that works for everyone. The time you choose for your fitness activities does have biological differences, but this should not be the most important deciding factor in selecting a time slot. It’s important to be realistic and take into consideration your time spent with loved ones, hobbies, commuting to work and of course relaxation to give your brain and body a rest. Forcing exercise at a certain time can cause stress in other aspects of your life which often times cause more harm than good while in the process of attaining your health goals. Consistency is the key to maintaining and achieving health benefits, which means your best bet is to pick a time that works with your schedule and stick with it. Here are 5 of the top reasons to get a work out in during the morning, afternoon or evening:

Morning 

There are two main chronotypes- “larks” (morning people) and “owls” (night owls). The two are differentiated by their energy and focus levels throughout the day. Larks have an easier time rising early in the morning with more energy, owls on the other hand rise later in the day and require time to get their energy flowing which peaks later in the evening.  There are about 10-20% of people that fall into one of the two types, but the majority of us are somewhere in between. If you are reading this, it’s probably safe to say you know which one you are closest to. A lot of our schedules are based around the time we wake up, and how much energy we have throughout the day. Naturally being closer to an owl will prove difficult to get a morning workout in, but for those closer to larks there are great benefits to catching the early worm.

1. Greater mental alertness before distractions and responsibilities take over
2. Exercise increases serotonin levels that control our mood, starting the day of positive is great
3. For men testosterone, which is needed for protein synthesis and digestion, is at its highest peak 
4. Less people in gyms equals greater availability of equipment and privacy to learn new exercises
5. Out of sight out of mind, its done and you won’t be tempted to cancel

Fun fact – Like the night owl, the lark is also a bird that wakes up to look for food very early in the morning, hence; the early bird gets the early worm.

Afternoon

Oh hey there, good afternoon! Congratulations you made it through your morning, or maybe you are just getting up? Are you having breakfast or lunch? And that is kind of how afternoons are right? You might have gotten the kids to school already, took care of some pressing work and now have time to do something for yourself, how about some exercise? The afternoon splits the morning and evening hours and it’s a great balance of the two. Not specifically the best time for a lark or an owl, here is what the afternoon looks like:

1. Some gyms don’t open early morning but by afternoon they do
2. The highest point of energy & pain tolerance while adrenaline and body temperature rise
3. It’s advised to exercise 45 – 90 minutes after eating a meal, it can be hard to work around lunch
4. Exercising with fellow coworkers or a gym partner is great for motivation
5. Optimum balance of mental and physical function

Evening

For some, mostly the larks, the day might be winding down, but for you owls out there its peak time. The evening tends to be the most popular time since work and school usually end by then. Gyms are often times conveniently located nearby transit that make them easier to access while on the way home. Friends and family are also usually free in the evenings so getting a workout partner is easier which helps with motivation. On the other side, after a long day sometimes exercise is the last thing on your mind.

1. Gyms can be crowded in the evening at 5 pm – 8 pm as it’s a time school and work end for many
2. Possible to go home to shower and prepare healthy homemade post-workout meals
3. A healthy way of coping with stress at the end of the day
4. Lung performance, coordination, stamina, flexibility, and strength are all at daily peak
5. Too late in the evening can interfere with sleep if the body is overstimulated

As you can see there are quite a few things to think about when picking the best time for exercise. The stress from forcing a single time daily can be damaging while switching up your time of day also keeps the body guessing which encourages muscle development. Be flexible with your workout times but keep your eye on the prize by being consistent with your days. Good luck with your goals and always remember to work comfortably!