When it comes to incorporating exercise into your daily life, finding the best time to train can be quite a challenge.
Recently I had someone ask me, “what is the best time to exercise?”
It isn’t as a simple answer as ‘morning is best’ or ‘afternoon is best’, it depends on several factors.
Personally I’m an advocate for early morning training as I know it sets me up for the day.
If I train early I feel great and that’s my exercise complete no excuses not to train should I end up having a busy day.
I know there are afternoon training session lovers out there. For those who find this as a preference it’s because the day is done there are no more distractions.
Personal preferences aside there are some physiological benefits as to why early morning training is valuable
6 benefits of getting your exercise done in the morning:
Increased Energy: Exercise is known to boost your energy levels, and this can be even more pronounced when you get your body moving with an morning exercise session. By getting your heart rate up and blood flowing early in the day you’ll feel more awake and alert throughout the rest of your day.
Improved Sleep: Exercise has been shown to improve your sleep quality, and working out in the morning can help regulate your body’s circadian rhythm. When you exercise in the morning your body’s natural rhythm is reset, making it easier to fall asleep at night and wake up feeling well rested the following morning.
Improved Mood: Exercise releases endorphins also known as happy hormones. By starting your day with exercise, you’ll feel more positive and energized throughout the day.
Increased metabolism: Exercise in the morning can help to stimulate your morning for the rest of the day. When you exercise your body burns calories and this effect can last for several hours afterwards. By exercising early in the day you’ll maximise this calorie burning effect throughout the day. Check out the STUDY by the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden on how early morning exercise may contribute to fat burning.
Reduced Stress: Exercise is a natural stress reliever and working out early in the morning can help reduce stress levels throughout the day. By starting your day with exercise you’ll feel more at ease and will be able to tolerate any challenges that may arise throughout the day.
Consistency: There is simply no other single factor more important than consistency that gets you closer to your health & fitness goals. Training early in the morning can be a lot easier to establish a consistent routine that allows for that daily habit of exercise to be formed.
So, in terms of physiological benefits, training early in the morning is the winner hands down. However, and this is a big HOWEVER, any exercise is better than none. So, if evening sessions work for you and you are able to remain consistent with them then stick to it.
Exercising later in the day can make falling asleep a challenge due to the stimulus placed upon our nervous system. With this in mind you may want to try some deep breathing and/or meditation before going to sleep.
All in all, if the question still remains “When is the best time to exercise ” it is simply the time that you will stick to and the time you can make a habit out of it.
Consistency is key!
So whatever time of day you decide to move your body go for it!
Heath Jones is the founder of Active & Ageless and has over 20 years’ experience in the Health & Wellness space.
He holds the following qualifications:
Bachelor of Nursing
Postgraduate in Exercise Science
Diploma of OHS
Cert 3 & 4 Fitness
Cert 4 Training & Assessment
Older Adults trainer
