If you’ve ever wondered whether you should work out in the morning versus the evening, you might be surprised to find out there’s no right answer. In fact, research says there are benefits to both. Therefore, the best choice for you might be the one that aligns with your goals. While working out in the morning might not be better than the evening, you can still make your decision based on several factors.
Reasons to Work Out in the Morning
Getting some morning exercise can be better for your health since the release of endorphins can motivate you to be more positive. It can also help you stay consistent. Besides this, you’ll be giving your metabolism a boost to start your day. Further, you don’t have to be strict with yourself to gain the benefits. Keep it simple by doing some warm up stretches for 10 minutes then 20 minutes of workout circuit or cardio. Committing to an early morning fitness routine can be a smart way to freshen up and prepare for the day to come. Another benefit is if you head to the gym, classes will be less likely to be full and all of the machines won’t be taken up.
Reasons to Work Out in the Evening
If you’ve ever worked out in the morning, you probably know how sweaty you can get. This can be a problem if you need to head to work or have other engagements. Instead, fitting your routine into the evening hours can be more hygienic. In addition, evenings can give you a chance to de-stress after a long day at work. Of course, you won’t have to hurry and be overly strict with yourself. You can sleep in, eat a full breakfast, check emails or even meditate. Having an evening exercise routine can give you the opportunity to relax in the wee morning hours.
Consider When You Have Time
If you can’t squeeze 20 minutes of running into your morning routine due to work commitments, then maybe you can do it later on. At the same time, if 20 minutes of cardio feels wrong for nighttime, then perhaps you can become an earlier riser. Furthermore, maybe you can skip the long breakfast and eat a bowl of cereal, and take a few minutes for fitness. Similarly, instead of watching T.V. in the evening, you might want to use your time wisely by exercising.
What Can You Realistically Commit To?
Sometimes life gets in the way which means you might need to readjust your schedule. For instance, you might need to finish an all-night work project, or you just realized you have to drive the kids to school. Although taking care of responsibilities often comes first, your health also needs to be prioritized. If you have too many commitments, maybe you should consider how you can make more time for self-care.
Choosing the most appropriate time to exercise might come down to your personal preferences. For example, if you’re a morning person, working out in the morning makes sense for many reasons. Similarly, if you’d rather sleep in late, evening workouts are probably more fitting. Since working out in the morning isn’t necessarily better than getting in a great evening workout, you have a choice to do whatever you want to do.