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Best Time of Day to Workout

by | May 13, 2017 | General

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO WORKOUT?

(HINT: IT DEPENDS ON WHAT TYPE OF EXERCISE YOU WANT TO DO)

Notes from the January 2017 article titled
Effect of Time-of-Day on Biochemical Markers in Response to Physical Exercise
from the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

While some people are up at the crack of dawn and swear by their long morning runs to get them jazzed, others can’t even fathom getting out of bed before noon. You don’t have to be an expert on circadian rhythms to determine the best time to exercise, however; we put together a quick guide for you based on this article in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, that may help optimize your sessions and afford you a few more hours of ZZZ’s at night!

Are you a morning person?

This is the BEST time for an EASY exercise

  • This will help you avoid sleep disturbances in the evening.
  • (Ex: easy 30 minute aerobic exercise)

Do you prefer to get your exercise in later in the day?

This is the BEST time for a HARD & LONG (80 to 150 minutes) workout

  • Between the hours of 2 – 6pm (finishing up 3-4 hours before bedtime) is ideal
  • The optimal time to get get your intense training in without affecting your sleep patterns.

Should you work out when your TIRED?

Yes, this is the BEST time for a LONG & EASY workout or FREQUENT & BRIEF (10 minute) Sessions.

  • Ex: bike ride, climbing a flight of stairs
  • In fact, these short sessions, when done frequently throughout the day, increased alertness.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what feels and works best in your routine. Remember, consistency is key, so find the time and duration that allows you to keep showing up.