When Is the Best Time to Exercise?
Here’s how to determine if the morning, afternoon, or evening is the best time for your workout to feel your best and achieve results.
Here are 5 important considerations to help you determine the best time to exercise.
1. When do you prefer to exercise?
Is there a particular time of day you prefer to exercise?
For example, some people might like to:
Be outside at certain time.
Exercise at home in the morning while others are still asleep.
Use the gym at an off-peak time.
Exercise at a time when a friend can join.
Are there any circumstances that make a certain part of the day more favorable than another?
2. When are you most likely to exercise?
What time of day are you most likely to stick to an exercise plan (or least likely to have other things get in your way)?
For example, if you plan to exercise on a lunch break…
How likely are you to follow through?
What are the chances of a last-minute lunch meeting (or other conflict) getting scheduled?
What else might get in the way?
Think about a typical day in your life and when it’s the most realistic for you to exercise. Consider:
Family responsibilities
Work schedules
Meetings
Appointments
Sleep schedules
Etc.
Think about any other factors and obligations that may play a part, and know that the most realistic time might vary depending on the day of the week.
3. What time has worked in the past?
Reflecting on what has worked in the past is an important step and potential indicator of what might also work now.
Here are a few questions to answer:
If you’ve exercised consistently at any point in your life, what time of day were you exercising?
Was there a particular time that worked well for you?
Why did that time work well?
It’s important not to dwell on the past. Briefly visit the past to gather the information you need. Then bring the information back to the present where you can use it to develop a plan for the future.
4. When do you have energy?
Is there a certain time of day when you typically have more energy?
Early, mid, or late morning
Lunchtime
Early, mid, or late afternoon
Early, mid, or late evening
Nighttime
A common reason for not exercising is feeling tired, so if you can plan to exercise around a time you typically have energy (or at least a little bit more than usual), this could help you stick to your plan.
5. How do you feel after exercise?
How do you typically feel after an exercise session?
Do you feel:
Tired?
Relaxed?
Energized?
Upbeat?
Knowing (or learning) how exercise affects you can be an important factor in determining the best time to exercise. For example:
If you feel tired after a workout, you might want to exercise later in the day.
If you feel energized after a workout, you might want to exercise earlier in the day, or at a time you know you’ll need an energy boost.
The best time to exercise is one that takes into account personal factors and preferences like those above. That way you’re more likely to do it!
You might read or hear that exercise at a certain time of day burns more calories or fat or has another benefit, but none of that matters if that time of day is not a realistic or preferred time for you.
Always remember that exercise at any time (and for any length of time) is better than no exercise at all.