Even sitting at a desk all day can seem quite taxing. Daily exercise, especially at the gym, can help mitigate some of these unwanted effects. Exercise has numerous mental and physical benefits that drastically improve the quality of life. Contrary to popular belief, gym buffs also have to answer the quandary of timing – when is the best time of the day to hit the gym?
Finding the perfect answer to that question could drive some people nuts. Plans and fitness habits differ from person to person, which in turn shifts the ideal workout time. This post explores the impact that your body’s internal clock has on exercise while evaluating the pros and cons of morning, noon, and evening workouts. By the end of this post, you will have sufficient knowledge to determine how you can optimize your schedule in order to achieve desired fitness targets.
Your Schedule and Your Body Clock
A circadian rhythm is a term in biology which describes the body’s innate 24-hour cycle. This natural clock serves a lot of critical functions such as sleep, energy levels, and body temperature, just to mention a few. With a body feeling the way it does, it is bound to impact the increase or decrease of activity levels and influence the efficiency of the body’s performance during these workouts.
Mid-morning is also popularly tagged for increasing cortisol secretion, the hormone that enhances alertness and focus. While performing this stretch, your muscles may feel somewhat tight and your body may feel cool.
In the early afternoon, one’s body temperature and reaction times increase, so it is greatly beneficial to partake in a physically intensive activity around that time.
It is most certain that during the evening, your muscles are warmed up, which means that the risk of getting injured is at the lowest level. However, this might combine with your bed routine if not done correctly.
These variations might help you as they could assist in trying to correlate your workout sessions with the energy spikes, which are essential in maximizing the benefits of your workout.
Morning Workouts
You have probably heard the phrase “win your morning, win your day” and have considered hitting the gym early. Apart from beating the crowds, does working out early have other benefits that set it apart from other gym session hours?
Pros
Increased Attention in The Morning and Throughout The Day
There is tremendous and undeniable benefit in working shifts, as energizing workouts can help you get ready to be physically and mentally active while getting you fueled to survive the day. Endorphins, also known as the “feel-good” hormones, are released during exercises and give you a sense of positivity to start your day.
Less Distraction
Another mid-morning workout benefit comes from fewer disturbing tweets and emails clogging your workflow. By beating the clock, you can schedule appointments and errands during lunch hours.
Food Scheduling
Lastly, morning workouts help individuals boost their productivity for the day as it enables them to accomplish at least one set task.
Cons
Tight Muscles
Early morning workouts can be tough on your body, and depending on your body, they may be more difficult as your muscles and joints can become stiff and chilly. This suggests that one should remember that a proper warm-up requires more than usual focus.
Race Against Time
Preparing oneself for work involves two competing major parts: taking the children to school and dealing with traffic while commuting. If one does not go to bed on time, fitting in a sweat session shifts from being sensible to just plain annoying.
Workout Sessions in the Afternoon
Afternoons are filled with relief, energy, and a simple need to go out and work out. Nonetheless, the energy one has after work poses a question: is it worth it?
Advantages
A hypotonic stress test is appreciated for its strength, referring to hypotonic strain along with maximum possible output or power and the velocity at which the change in progression takes place.
Usually, the average level of human body temperature, in addition to muscular activity, is very likely to be at its highest in the midday. This means the body will have maximum efficiency and performance during work.
Strength training benefits after exercises have been shown to be better in the afternoons when the level of testosterone, together with other hormones that support muscle repair and growth, is high.
Drawbacks
An increase in lethargy may indicate a change to a lower energy state.
Improved emphasis and attention through brain-muscle fatigue is dependent on one’s eating schedule.
Post-lunch hour cues, where one finishes lunch and resumes work, could result in aimless wandering rather than structured workouts.
Evening Workouts
For night owls and busy people with errands to run, these workouts can be very helpful as they do not necessitate a hurry. You can arrive when you want and proceed to work at your own pace.
Advantages
Stress Relief After a Long Day
Having a long day? Evening workouts are especially useful for relaxation and facilitate a change from ‘work mode’ while preparing your body for unwinding.
Longer, More Focused Sessions
Evening workouts often come with long 9-5 breaks, thus they tend to be leisurely. This enables exercising without stress, bringing with it the additional benefit of using that time to work out and even rest properly.
Lower Risk of Injury
Due to active usage throughout the day, muscles and joints are expected to be supple in the evening. This enhances the potential for easier movement and reduces the chances of injury as well.
Disadvantages
Interrupted Sleep Cycles
For some, winding down after a long day can become incredibly difficult due to the increased endorphins and adrenaline as a result of exercising in the evening.
Overpopulated Gyms
“After work hours” gyms can oftentimes be chaotic and crowded. Because of this, many people who wish to exercise find it more annoying than enjoyable.
So Another Tip: Listen to Your Body
The most effective time to exercise varies from person to person. Science has its set ideas, but so does each individual and the way they prefer to live.
While some people might get excited about working out in the early morning hours, others get pumped about lifting in the evenings.
Tips for Finding the Best Time for You
- Implement workouts at different times throughout the day and assess how your body feels.
- Your working hours and when the equipment is free also need to be planned for.
- Whether that is exercising when the sun is rising or building muscle at night, discipline is vital to working towards accomplishing fitness objectives.
Determine Ideal Workout Time
The bottom line is, it all boils down to you. Whether you prefer energetic mornings or relaxing workouts in the evening, figuring out what motivates you is more important than conforming to somebody else’s schedule. The most challenging thing is showing up, so try to keep that in mind. Figure out a time and follow it, but more importantly, enjoy the process because hitting the gym should focus on improving your self-image.
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