When Is the Best Time to Exercise?

The answer probably isn’t what you think.

Morning person? Maybe you love getting your workout done before the rest of the world wakes up.

Prefer a lunchtime session? Perfect!

Like exercising after work because it helps you switch off from the day? That works too.

And if the thought of getting up at 5am to exercise makes you want to pull the doona over your head… Please don’t.

There is no magical time of day that makes exercise worthwhile. The best time to exercise is a time that works for you and that you can keep doing.

Forget the perfect routine

We can spend an awful lot of time trying to find the perfect exercise routine: The perfect workout, the perfect time, the perfect number of sessions, the perfect program. Meanwhile, we’re not actually moving.

I’d much rather see you find something realistic that fits into your life because a good exercise routine isn’t the one that looks impressive on paper. It’s the one you actually do.

Look at your real life

Before deciding when you should exercise, look at when you realistically have the time and energy.

Are mornings relatively calm?
Is your lunch break predictable?
Do you finish work at a reasonable time?
Are evenings already packed with family commitments?
Do you have more energy on some days than others?

These things matter. Your exercise routine needs to fit your life, not someone else’s.

When do you have the most energy?

This is worth paying attention to. Some people feel fantastic first thing in the morning. Others need a few hours, a coffee and perhaps a small motivational speech before they’re ready to move!

Your energy levels can also change throughout the day. If you consistently feel stronger and more alert in the afternoon, there’s nothing wrong with exercising then.

If mornings are your best time, go for it. And if your energy varies from day to day, that’s useful information too.

What do you actually enjoy?

This is a big one.

If you love Pilates, you’ll probably find it easier to make time for Pilates. If you love walking, walk. If you enjoy strength training, lift some weights. If you love dancing, dance. If you prefer exercising with other people, find a class.

Enjoyment matters because you’re much more likely to keep doing something you don’t dread. And consistency is where your movement practice starts to become part of your life rather than another item on your to-do list.

Don’t forget recovery

More exercise isn’t automatically better.

Your body needs time to recover, particularly when you’re doing challenging or unfamiliar activities. That might mean having rest days, alternating harder and easier sessions, or simply paying attention to how you’re feeling and adjusting your plans when necessary.

Recovery isn’t the opposite of training; it’s part of it.

And sometimes life gets in the way

This is probably the most important thing of all.

You planned to exercise at 7am, then someone needed you. You planned a lunchtime walk, then work exploded. You were going to train after work, then you realised you were exhausted. It happens.

Don’t turn one missed session into a missed week. Don’t decide you’ve ‘fallen off the wagon’, just find the next opportunity to move.

Consistency doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly. It means coming back to it.

So, what’s the best time to exercise?

Whenever you can realistically fit it into your life, you enjoy it enough to keep doing it, and it works for your body and your schedule.

Maybe that’s 6am, maybe it’s 12:30pm, maybe it’s 6pm, maybe it’s a combination depending on the day.

There is no prize for exercising at the crack of dawn. And there is definitely no prize for squeezing a workout into a time that makes your life miserable!

Find what works. Make it achievable. Keep moving.