When Should I Exercise?

Your body is like a huge locomotive that takes an age to reach top speed. Leaving exercise until your body is ready means a better workout and fewer injuries.

Morning workouts are unquestionably good for you, your mood, and your concentration, and even help improve academic performance. However, this is the time for gentle exercise; if you push muscles beyond their capacity, they are liable to damage, resulting in tiny rips that cause soreness and injury. Save serious workouts for the afternoon when your body is at its peak. Also, avoid exercising too late in the evening—workouts raise your temperature, counteracting the natural lowering of your body temperature, which readies you for sleep.

Physical performance worsens during hot spells; exercise may feel easier to start with, but you will tire much more quickly. On average, you’ll probably do best at 65–68°F (18–20°C). Prolonged, vigorous physical exertion is best left for much cooler days—between 41–50°F (5–10°C)—and this may be why running on the treadmill in an air-conditioned gym can feel easier than pounding the pavement in summer.

n Double-tap image to read the labels

push it back

Most people hit their physical prime about nine hours after they naturally wake; morning larks may take less time because they wake earlier, while night owls can take a bit longer since they usually wake later.

Live Your Best Life | When Should I Exercise?