Not a morning person? Busy with work and other obligations during the day and can’t find the time to hit the gym? Working out at night may be the solution for you. But even if you can’t find time during the day, is a night workout the right choice to make? Let’s have a look at the pros and cons of both.
The Pros of Working Out at Night
1. Blow off Steam from the Day
After a long and busy day, there’s nothing better than indulging in a de-stressing activity to help you relax and disconnect from the day’s stress. A night workout can do exactly that. It can help you release the stress you built up during the day and help you focus your energy towards your body. Also, exercise releases endorphins, which can have a positive effect on your mood.
2. You’re Already Warmed Up
Research has shown that those who work out later in the day, are able to perform higher intensity workouts and for longer. This could be due to the fact that your muscles are already warmed up and stretched from your morning activities and that you’re well fueled up from your breakfast, lunch and other snacks you may have had during the day.
3. Hygiene
Gyms don’t always have showers, which can be a problem if you work out in the morning and then head to work all sweaty and gross afterwards. In order to avoid that, opt for working out in the evening so you always have the option of hopping in the shower afterwards and washing away the dirt and grime from your day’s activities.
4. Get Better Sleep
You may have heard that late workouts can have a negative effect on your sleep. This is not necessarily the case. If your workouts are of light to moderate intensity, such as yoga or a bike ride, then it shouldn’t disrupt your sleep. If anything, you may actually experience a more deeper, restorative sleep. Just remember to stretch your muscles after your workout, as it improves circulation and will get your body ready and relaxed for a great sleep.
The Cons of Working Out at Night
1. No Group Classes
There are not many gyms out there that offer night workout classes. Most classes take place during the day or early evening, and evening classes are often more packed than morning ones, reducing your chances of landing a spot. So if you’re opting to working out at night, that may be something you will have to miss out on.
Additionally, another thing that group classes offer is the ability to be surrounded and workout with like-minded, driven people, boosting your motivation and inspiring you to be healthier and set your fitness goals higher.
2. Exhaustion
When you wake up from a good night’s sleep, your body is energized and prepared if you were to do a workout. Unfortunately, if you’re going to opt for a night workout, the long day’s exhaustion may take over you and you will want to just curl up, relax and watch tv instead.
As the day goes on, it requires more mental energy to focus and meet your fitness goals as distractions and tiredness pile up. Sometimes, you may also have dinner plans with family or may want to spend time with friends leading you to miss your night workout. In this case, a morning workout would be ideal.
3. Consistency
There have been studies done that show that those who workout in the morning are more likely to stay consistent and continue with their workouts as opposed to those who workout in the evening. That is because in the morning, you are less likely to get distracted and are more focused, leading you to continue being consistent with your morning exercise. Exercising in the evening, as mentioned in the point above, may not always be possible due to commitments that may come up, causing you to not be consistent with your workouts.
The Verdict
So whether you decide to work out in the morning or at night, just remember, it’s ideal to pick and stick to a routine that fits with your fitness goals and can help you achieve them. Happy exercising!
Also Read: Is Too Much Exercise Bad for You?
