Is There An Ideal Time of Day To Work Out?

Some people live for their early mornings wake up calls, rising out of bed at 6 am to get their hearts racing and get their serotonin boost for the day. Others couldn’t think of anything worse than waking up earlier than they have to, especially to exercise and prefer to work out at night time to shake off the day’s stress. But is there a specific time of day that is the best time to exercise?

1)     Consider your body clock

At Kaya Health Clubs, we believe that the most important thing is to choose a time of day you can stick with, so that exercise becomes a habit. Your body’s circadian rhythm determines whether you’re a night owl or an early bird, so it’s always worth tuning into that first to decide what’s best for you. Your unique body clock will influence the way your body functions, such as blood pressure, body temperature, hormone levels, and heart rate, all of which play a role in your body’s readiness for exercise.

2)     The perks of morning exercise

While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, exercising in the morning does have greater benefits, especially for trimming down and boosting energy levels. First of all, you finish your workout nice and early and can enjoy the rest of the day, feeling a sense of accomplishment, whilst riding the wave of serotonin! Morning workouts can also aid with weight loss, increase your alertness, energy, and focus, help you make healthier food choices, control your appetite and improve sleep. 

3)     If you’re fasting, there are benefits of exercising during your fasting period

Despite personal trainers often telling their clients to eat before they workout, this can also make you feel stuffed and sluggish during your training session or fitness classes. While not eating before working out is not for everyone, there are massive benefits gained from working out in a fasted state. If you practice intermittent fasting daily, working out fasted will increase your sensitivity to insulin, improve your overall workout performance and train your body to burn fat more efficiently.

4)     Exercising ANYTIME is better than none at all

It’s important to remember that exercising any time is better than not exercising at all! Using your body clock as a guide to when to head to your fitness classes might seem like a good idea, but, of course, there are other important considerations, such as family and work schedules, or a friend’s availability to work out with you. Always choose a time that works with your schedule and lifestyle!

5)     Exercise close to bedtime may have an effect on your sleep

In order to get a good night’s rest, your body needs time to unwind and prepare for sleep-mode. You want your heart rate and body temperature in a rest zone to allow space for your body to relax. Exercising too close to bedtime sabotages your body’s urge to sleep, so this is important to consider when planning your workout schedule.

6)     If you struggle to get out of bed in the morning, it’s good to look at the times you go to sleep or wake up.

While we know that there’s no realization more unpleasant than the one that hits you when your alarm goes off and you know you have to get out of your sweet, sweet bed, if you struggle to get up in the morning, it might be worth looking at your sleeping pattern. 

The times when you feel sleepy or awake are regulated circadian rhythm created by the brain, this means going to bed too late affects your body’s ability to feel energised in the morning.

Try to aim for 8 hours of sleep each night, and aim to go to bed before 9:30/10 pm. This might help you with earlier wake-up calls, and before you know it, you will be joyfully skipping to all your sunrise fitness classes!

About the Author

Demi fell in love with yoga when she travelled to India when she was 20 years old. She loved the feeling of bliss she experienced both during and after class, and how that feeling would stay with her throughout her day. It was also in India, that Demi learned how much she loved to write about her travels. She believes that stories have power. They delight, enchant, touch, teach, recall, inspire, motivate, challenge. They help us understand. They imprint a picture in our minds. This led her to her job as a Content Writer. She loves helping businesses tell stories. Especially when the stories involve educating readers on the endless benefits of yoga and Pilates- two of her most loved fitness regimes