There's no denying that some people are morning people and others are night owls. The human body functions on a circadian rhythm or internal clock. For most people, this means sleeping when it's dark and hitting the work desk -- or treadmill -- when the sun is shining. But some people come alive at night. Circadian rhythms are innate and therefore somewhat unique from person to person. According to Doug Jackson, M.Ed., the best time for exercise is what feels right to each person. But there are some general rules that make some time slots more optimal than others if you basically stick to a nine-to-five schedule.
Early Morning
Early morning exercisers tend to be more diligent about their workouts. "Redbook Magazine" indicates that nearly all people who choose to work out before their day starts rarely miss an exercise session. This time slot can be energizing and get your day off to a good start. According to Jackson, early-in-the-day workouts raise your resting metabolic rate, which means that your body burns more calories doing simple activities.
Early Afternoon
There are differing opinions as to when your body reaches its maximum temperature, which is important to muscle strength, stamina and flexibility. Dr. Michael Vitiello of the University of Washington indicates that this happens between 2:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon. Since exercising is energizing, doing it in the early afternoon can help you avoid the late afternoon doldrums, which are part of the circadian rhythm for most people.
Late Afternoon
"Redbook Magazine" indicates that your body does not reach maximum temperature until 5:00 to 6:00 in the afternoon or early evening, and recommends bumping exercise back a few hours to fit it into this time slot. If you exercise during this peak temperature time, your lungs will process oxygen more efficiently and this will increase stamina. When your temperature is elevated, your muscles are also more fluid, and your agility will improve. If you use a gym for your workouts, you'll also probably find more camaraderie with other exercisers during this time, when everyone's day is winding down.
Late Evening
One time you probably won't want to exercise is at night. All that energy you produce can easily keep you awake hours past your normal bedtime, interfering with sufficient sleep for health and productivity. Of course, if you're a night owl and don't maintain a schedule that requires you to get up early in the morning, this may be less of a problem for you.
Consistency
Whenever you choose to exercise, Jackson recommends picking a time and sticking to it. Don't bounce back and forth between the morning one day and the afternoon the next. Consistency is important to reap the most benefits from your exercise routine.
