19 Nov Morning or Evening: When Should You Exercise?

Scheduling your workouts can seem harder than it looks like. Squeezing in personal time for physical, mental, and emotional health can feel like a chore, especially if you are busy with other things. 

If you want to reap the benefits of your workouts, there are things you should consider such as your diet, main health goal, and schedule. 

Morning Exercise 

Some people like to start their day with exercise as it can give them the feeling of accomplishment or the mood boost they need to finish their tasks. 

It also allows you to set the tone of the day by starting your day with a physical activity. It also removes the worry of having to find the time to squeeze in your workouts later in the day, which can help you have more flexibility with your schedule and more time to address urgent matters. 

A 2020 study showed that consistent morning exercise can promote more frequent exercise and can effectively manage weight among adults with obesity. 

Morning exercise can also have a positive effect on sleep quality while also decreasing cortisol and increasing melatonin at night, according to a 2022 study. 

Other studies also reported that there are also benefits in starting your workouts in the morning including: 

• Burn more calories throughout the day due to boosted metabolism 

• Best workout schedule for those who prefer outdoor activities as you can avoid the hottest time of the day. 

• Boosted energy and reduce fatigue 

Morning exercise might not be an appealing activity, especially if you are not a morning person or struggling to find a me time during the mornings. 

Evening Exercise 

Some people prefer evening exercise due to the time constraints in their mornings, but it doesn’t mean that they reap less benefits from it. 

Experts noted that the body’s temperature is at its highest between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., which could mean that you will be doing your workouts at a time when your body is most ready. 

In addition, your body’s reaction time is faster in the afternoon and evening, which could be a perfect time to do your high-intensity interval training or some speed training on the treadmill. 

During the afternoon, your heart rate and blood pressure are at it lowest, which can help decrease injury and improve performance. 

There are some downsides to doing evening exercises such as: 

• Intense training can disrupt sleep 

• A challenge to build a consistent routine 

To avoid experiencing the downsides of evening exercise, choose a gentler form of exercise during this time, especially if you are training hours before sleep. You can do yoga or some stretches. 

Regular exercise is important regardless of the schedule. It can help: 

• Increase energy levels and boost mood 

• Strengthen bones 

• Reduce risk of chronic diseases 

• Improve skin health 

• Increase brain health and improve memory 

• Promote relaxation 

• Reduce pain 

There is no wrong time to do your workout routine. When done consistently, regular physical activity can help you in your short-term or long-term better health goals.