A healthy and active lifestyle must include exercise. While some prefer to work out in the late afternoon, others prefer to run first thing in the morning. Some individuals even work out just before bedtime. Is there any advantage to working out at a certain time of day?

The debate over this issue among athletes, fitness professionals, and researchers is intense. Even if there is some evidence suggesting the late afternoon is the best time to exercise, there are advantages to other times as well. The time that works best for you is always the best time to exercise. For more information on the potential advantages of exercising at specific times of the day, keep reading.

Why the afternoon is advantageous

According to experts, the ideal times to exercise are in the late afternoon and early evening. According to research, you will achieve your best outcomes when your body temperature is the highest. That occurs for most people between 4 and 5 p.m., while some research pushes this deadline back to 7 p.m.

These few hours are when strength and endurance are at their highest. Exercisers typically perform better on tests of aerobic capacity and response time. Exercise is also recommended to avoid fatigue. The muscles are warmed up from the day’s activities, and you might be more alert and concentrated in the afternoon.

However, having a morning routine has certain benefits.

Daytime Inspiration

You might find it easier to stay motivated if you run early. According to research, those who exercise in the morning stick more closely to their training schedules than people who exercise in the afternoon or at night.

You may be waking up early to go running or to the gym, which is the likely cause of this. Usually, you have more influence over your mornings than your evenings. During the day, you may face a number of problems that make it hard to stick to an afternoon routine. You might need to stay late at work, drive the kids to sports practice, go to the supermarket, or anything. You awaken in the morning with no obstacles in your path and are prepared to go.

In addition, during the warmer months, the morning is the coolest time of the day. If you go for a run in the morning when it’s hot, you’ll feel safer and more comfortable.

The Lifestyle Factors

The most useful strategy is to modify your routine to fit your way of living. You can reduce the stress associated with needing to exercise, which will make it easier for you to keep up with it, by letting your exercise organically follow your schedule and personal activities.

For some people, going for a run in the morning helps them get ready for the day. Others might find that going out in the afternoon gives them a welcome break from their workday or that it allows them to let off steam after work.

Similarly, an early run can fit your schedule better than an evening activity. It’s also likely that you just have a little window of time to squeeze in a workout at night due to work and family obligations.

Also, research has shown that working out before bed may not affect the quality of your sleep, which is good news for people who like to stay up late. The one thing, nevertheless, on which everyone can agree is that you must get enough sleep. Sportspeople who are sleep-deprived perform significantly worse.

Event Duration

Your ideal workout time should match the activity if you are training for a specific event or sport. Running in the morning might help you get ready for an event, such as a marathon, since most marathons start in the morning.

Soccer matches may be planned during the afternoon, but most baseball games are played in the evening. Training during those periods will improve your body’s performance on game or race day, regardless of the sport you play.

How to Change

Your circadian cycle influences the best time to exercise significantly. It is a daily cycle that controls many bodily functions, such as metabolism, blood pressure, body temperature, and alertness.

Everyone has a 24-hour rhythm, which can be altered or “taught” to perform better at certain times. It’s similar to setting your alarm clock to a different time. You might find it challenging to wake up early in the first week or two. However, after a month or so, your body adjusts to the change, and many people discover that they awaken before the alarm sounds.

The same applies to your fitness regimen. You can start training your body to match a certain time of day once you’ve determined that it works best for your schedule, body, event, and other aspects.

Your body becomes accustomed to jogging at that time, for instance, if you start doing long runs in the morning. Additionally, you’ll get used to rising, drinking, eating, going to the restroom, and jogging. It will eventually come naturally, and the routine will keep you motivated.