If you ask a personal trainer when you should exercise, the answer may be a very loud ‘NOW!’ Because really, exercise is beneficial at any time of the day. That being said, research has found that exercising at particular times may be even more beneficial. Here we attempt to answer the question ‘when should I exercise?’
Exercise When You Can
We all lead busy lives. And the two main reasons people say they can’t exercise is a lack of time and results. So if you’d like to move more in your day, the first step is to make time for it.
A good tip is to plan it like a doctor’s appointment or important meeting. That way, you’ll feel invested in your exercise time and may be more compelled to stick to your plan.
For others, signing up to a boot camp or exercising with a friend keeps them on track, as they don’t want to let others down. An expensive gym membership is another trick – it’s easy to get out of bed for a workout when you’ve already spent the money on it!
So even though some studies may suggest exercising early or late for best results, pick what works for you. If a 6am wake-up call will get you up and ready to tackle the day, do that. Or see if a lunchtime walk pushes your buttons.
Exercise to your Circadian Rhythms
Our bodies run like clockwork. Circadian rhythms regulate our temperature, blood pressure, energy levels and metabolism. And while our rhythms are regular, it is possible to change them.
Research from the University of North Texas found that our rhythms can be reset through exercise. So if you start getting up at 7am every day to workout, your body will respond – and soon, getting up to exercise early will be a lot easier. Participants in the study found that when they tried evening exercise, they struggled because their rhythms weren’t in sync with that schedule.
Early Exercise for a Better Sleep
A US study found that working out in the morning is best if you struggle to sleep. In the study, people who exercised on a treadmill at 7am slept longer and had deeper cycles than people who worked out later in the day. Interestingly, the early risers had 755 more time spent in the deep sleep stage.
Afternoon Exercise for Better Results
On the flip side, research suggests that afternoon or early evening exercise gets better results. The human body is warmer, less prone to injury and we tend to have more energy later in the day. So if it’s peak performance you’re after, a later workout may be best.
