What’s the Best Time to Exercise?

Whether you can’t start the day without your morning run or you prefer to squeeze in your sweat sessions at the gym after a stressful workday, it’s a given that exercising at any point in the day is always better than being a couch potato. But does it really make a difference whether you work out in the morning or the evening? Turns out, it might, depending on your goals.

A recent study at Appalachian State University found that morning workouts are best if you want a better night’s sleep (and who doesn’t want that?). The researchers tracked the sleep patterns of people ages 40 to 60 who walked on a treadmill for 30 minutes, three times a week. Participants worked out at three different times: 7 a.m., 1 p.m. or 7 p.m. Turns out, those who hit the treadmill at 7 a.m. slept longer and had deeper sleep cycles than those who exercised at other points in the day. In fact, the morning crowd spent up to 75% more time in the reparative “deep sleep” stage at night.

As a bonus, early birds also experienced a 10% reduction in blood pressure during the day and a 25% dip at night.

The sleep changes that occur with morning exercise can alter our bodies mentally and physically, according to Scott Collier, PhD, the lead author of the study and an assistant professor in the department of health, leisure and exercise science at Appalachian State University.

“The better you sleep, the better it is for your body,” explains Dr. Collier. “It increases your cardio health, decreases stress and anxiety, helps you maintain your weight and lowers your blood pressure. Plus, the more time spent in deep sleep, the more time your body has to repair itself.”

According to me best workout time is morning. Because after morning workout I feel whole day fresh and stress less. But some time when I skip workout at evening time I actually not done at evening because I tried after work in office. So, I prefer morning for work out.