Exercising in the morning
![Exercise is one of the best things you can do to boost the health of your body and mind. The best time of day to exercise is whenever is best for you.](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/exercise-stairs-lifting.jpg?output-quality=75)
Finding time to exercise can be challenging. Exercising at particular times of the day may help you reach your health and fitness goals. What’s the best time to exercise?
Working out first thing in the morning has benefits for your health and your workout.
Less distractions. In the morning, there’s usually less competition for your time. Getting your workout in early means that work or school hasn’t started, and there usually aren’t social activities to attend. Leaving exercise to later in the day may lead you to make excuses for not exercising.
Boost mood and energy. Working out in the morning is a good way to kickstart your day. It can boost your mood and energy levels.
Better sleep. A study found that working out at 7 am rather than 1 pm or 7 pm can improve your sleep quality.
Increased activity. Morning exercise can help you increase your overall physical activity throughout the day. A study found that women who worked out in the morning were more active during the rest of the day. Their activity level throughout the day was lower when they didn’t exercise in the morning.
Burn more. You may burn more fat when exercising on an empty stomach. When you work out on an empty stomach, you may be able to burn up to 20% more body fat. This is probably easier to do before your morning breakfast.
Exercising in the afternoon or evening
If you prefer to exercise in the afternoon or evening, there are many advantages for these times as well.
Help with digestion. A light walk after lunch may help get your digestive system going. If you have Type 2 diabetes, a walk after lunch can help improve your absorption of glucose.
Relieve stress. Sometimes you just need to get out and break a sweat at lunchtime or at the end of your work day. Exercise lowers your body’s stress hormone levels, including your levels of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol.
Exercise is a form of recreation. It also makes you get out and spend time by yourself or with friends. This can help distract you from the worries and stresses of your work or daily life.
Better performance. Scientists say that your reaction time is best in the afternoon and evening. This is useful when playing soccer, basketball, and racket sports like tennis.
Studies have also found that your peak power and grip strength are higher in the evening than in the morning. This may help improve your sports performance in the evening.
Exercise and sleep
Exercise can help you sleep better, as long as you don’t exercise too close to bedtime.
Evening exercise may help you sleep better. Researchers found that exercise increased total sleep time as well as time spent in deep sleep.
Vigorous exercise close to bedtime may result in poorer sleep quality. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins. These chemicals may cause some people to stay awake.
Exercise also raises your body temperature. This rise in core body temperature is a signal to your body clock that it’s time to be awake. It takes about 60 to 90 minutes after exercising for your body temperature to drop.
If exercise keeps you awake, try not to exercise 1 to 2 hours before bed. This gives your brain some time to wind down, and your endorphin levels time to fall. Then you’ll be able to sleep better.
If you regularly sleep less than 6 to 7 hours a night, you may be at a higher risk for health problems like:
The best time to workout
What’s the best time to exercise? The best time is whenever is best for you. If you’re not a morning person, exercising in the morning may be something you dread. You may find it easier to hit the gym after work. It’s more important to pick a time that suits your schedule and your lifestyle.
What’s also important is that you find an exercise that you enjoy. This will motivate you to keep exercising. Try different types of exercise at different times of the day to see what suits you.
Whatever time of the day you choose to exercise, keep in mind that each week you need at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. This should be spread out through the week. Children aged 6 to 17 years should be active at least 60 minutes a day.
![](https://images.medicinenet.com//images/slideshow/effective_exercise_personal_trainer_s1.jpg)
SLIDESHOW
Pictures of the 7 Most Effective Exercises to Do at the Gym or Home (and Tips to Improve Form) See SlideshowAmerican Heart Association: "American Heart Association Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults and Kids," "When is the best time of day to work out?"
British Journal of Nutrition: "Breakfast and exercise contingently affect postprandial metabolism and energy balance in physically active males."
Colorado State University: "When is the best time to exercise?"
Harvard Health Publishing: "Exercising to relax."
Integrative Medicine Research: "Morning and evening exercise."
John Hopkins Medicine: "Exercising for Better Sleep."
Journal of Catholic Education: "Time-of-Day Effects on Human Performance."
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: "Neural response to pictures of food after exercise in normal-weight and obese women."
Sports Medicine: "Effects of Evening Exercise on Sleep in Healthy Participants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis."
Vascular Health and Risk Management: "Effects of exercise timing on sleep architecture and nocturnal blood pressure in prehypertensives."
Top What Is the Best Time of Day to Exercise Related Articles
8 Effective Exercises to Burn Stomach Fat
One can lose stomach fat by adhering to a strict diet plan, exercise regime, and lifestyle modifications. It’s normal to want to get rid of stomach fat fast, but it is not possible to reduce fat. Hence, losing stomach fat requires a mix of various exercises such as resistance training or high-intensity aerobic exercise, along with a healthy diet, which help lose body weight, including stomach fat.Can You Correct Scoliosis With Exercise?
Scoliosis may worsen with age in some patients. The curve may increase with or without increasing the pain. Many patients fear that the only treatment for getting relief from the pain will be a spine surgery. However, many patients do not need surgery. With the right workout or exercise regime, you can maintain the curve, help relieve the pain, and halt the progression of your scoliosis.Do Jawline Exercises Work?
Numerous studies have been conducted on face yoga or face exercises to improve the signs of aging over the face and neck area. These studies have been conducted on small sample sizes and need further investigation. However, many women who participated in these studies did report lessened facial sagging and fine lines.Exercise Quiz
Take our Exercise and Fitness Quiz and learn to maximize your fitness level with simple exercises that do not require major changes to your lifestyle.What Are the Four Most Important Types of Exercises?
Exercise is the key to a healthy life. When it comes to exercise, it does not mean only the strenuous ones and exercising at the gym. Exercise also includes stretching and balancing acts.Health and Sex: Exercises for Better Sex
Want to get more out of your time between the sheets? Add these exercises from this WebMD slide show to your workout routine. They're good for both men and women.Low Back Pain Relief
Do you suffer from low back pain? Learn more about common triggers of lower back pain like posture, exercise, and spondylosis. Find out about pain relief treatments like massage, yoga, stretching, exercises for back pain, and chiropractic medicine. See when surgery for back pain makes sense.How to Lower Blood Pressure: Exercise and Tips
Trying to lower high blood pressure (hypertension)? Discover exercises good for lowering blood pressure, along with other lifestyle changes and medications to prevent high blood pressure.Can You Get Menstrual Cramps After Exercise Like Running?
Menstrual cramps affect many women. Learn if exercise like running can cause menstrual cramps and how you can treat them.What Is the Best Exercise to Relieve Sciatica?
Sciatica describes any type of shooting pain that begins at the spine and radiates through the buttocks and down the back of the leg. Learn the 14 best stretches and exercises to relieve sciatica pain.Budget-Friendly Fitness
There are plenty of cheap and free ways to exercise. Learn about inexpensive ways to get in shape with the use of jump ropes, hand weights, resistance bands, stability balls, and more.What Exercise Can I Do with Knee Bursitis?
What is knee bursitis? Learn which exercises can help ease symptoms.What Exercises Can Help Vaginismus?
Learn what exercises and medical treatments can help ease your vaginismus symptoms and speed up your recovery.What Is the Most Effective Core Exercise?
The core is a collection of muscles that stabilize, rotate and move the spine. A healthy core translates into a stronger lower back and better balance. The most effective core exercises are dead bug, side plank, front plant, vertical leg crunches, flutter kicks, Russian twists and the hollow body hold and hang.Which Exercises to Avoid With Lower Back Pain?
Doctors recommend strengthening exercises to help relieve low back pain, however, here are eight workouts to avoid potentially worsening your chronic pain.