Many people start exercising with the intention of losing weight, building muscle, improving cardiovascular health or just simply because their doctor told them to. Fun fact, exercising has many other hidden benefits as well! Well, here is a brief list of some hidden exercising benefits that you probably are not aware of:

1. Slows your process of dumbing down
2. Removes anxiety
3. Boosts your self confidence
4. Makes you smarter
5. Makes you feel optimistic
6. Tippity taps into your creative side
7. Beats and controls addictions
8. Lowers human stress levels

I am sure you have been hearing the quote “early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise” since forever. However, recent researches have proven that there are things yet to be discovered regarding the human body than what we already know. They have even given evening workouts the green signal, which is a comparatively new concept for a lot of people.  So, if it is okay to work out in the morning and in the evening, how in the world will you decide which time is best time for gym for you? Let us not make it difficult for you to make the right choice. Here goes the pros and cons of working out in the morning and the evening. I will let you decide which time is best for sweating it out!

Morning Workouts

Who does not like a good sweaty morning workout to take on the challenges of the day? A lot of people prefer working out in the morning as the best time for exercise as they have just woken up from slumber and are well rested. Here is a list of Pros and Cons for morning workout.

Pros:

1)Your Morning Energy Boost!

Working out in the morning can give you the energy boost you need to make it through the day. A morning workout can get your body  moving and prepare your mind for the challenges of the day ahead.

2)Rise like the Birdie, Sleep like the Birdie

An early workout helps you sleep better at night. This is because you are using your energy from the moment you wake up.  A morning workout is ideal for insomniacs as it helps in getting deep sleep during the night1. So, if you want to snooze better at night, sweat it out in the morning!

3)Life Won’t Stop You from Working Out.

If you have scheduled evening workouts, chances of them getting skipped due to unplanned meetings or other activities are higher. With morning workouts, rest assure that no unplanned events can make you skip your fitness session as you are less likely to have plans that early in the morning (we are not judging your social life over here, of course).

4)The Atmosphere is Pleasant

If you hate the hustle and bustle of gyms and the smell of sweat everywhere, working out in the morning can be a big plus point for you. Gyms and workout places are often quiet in the morning as most people prefer joining after work. So, if you hate waiting in line for the treadmill and showers, get up early for a peaceful workout.

Cons:

1)Waking up Early

Working out in the morning means you need to wake up extra early if you do not want to get to work late. This can be difficult for you if your work starts in the morning shift. Exercising for an hour will make you get up at 5:30 or 6 a.m. to have breakfast and hit the gym.

2)More Warm up Tim

Since your body muscles have just spent the last few hours resting, an intensive workout will require more time to warm up in the morning. This means that you need to dedicate proper time to your warm up before you start hitting the weights.

Evening workouts

It is believed that  the best time for workouts are done in the morning. What if waking up early makes you feel like a cat being forced into a taking a bath? Then, you are left with only one option, working out in the evening. Contrary to popular believes, working out in the evening is not harmful for your health. Recent researches have shown that working out in the evening can be beneficial to you. A study published by the European Sleep Research Society in 2010 on the effects of late night workouts concluded that late night exercising had no impact on sleep in individuals that participated.

Pros:

1)All Warmed Up and Ready!

The human body automatically flexes in the evening. This requires less warm up and provides more time for an effective workout.

2)Better Bone and Mental Health

Stress and stones may damage your bones — But not if you go for an evening workout! Generally, people hit the gym after work due to stressed. An evening workout enables them to deal with stress. This, in turn, decreases bone loss and damages.

Cons:

1)Safety Issues

Safety issues do become a cause of concern for evening workouts especially if you walk or jog outdoors.  Hindrance in workouts are common in winters when it gets dark soon. Unwillingly, you might work out indoors due to safety concerns.

2)Life gets in the Way!

Life (Or ahem…happy hour) might get in the way of your workout session.  Other personal commitments like hangout plans, are likely to get in the way of your evening workouts. Sooner or later,  you will find yourself rescheduling them quite often.

3)Waiting for Equipment

Evenings can get pretty busy at the gyms as many people tend to go there after work. It might take you longer than expected to get your turn on a treadmill or grab some dumb bells.

4)Less “After Burn”

Another drawback is that after the workout, you will be looking forward to relaxing activities before you hit the sheets. When you sleep, your metabolism drops and there is less after workout burn as compared to morning workouts.

Both morning and evening workouts have their benefits and negatives. It is up to you to decide which one works better for you. If you are a morning person, then morning workouts are perfect for you. But, if you are a night person, then instead of getting up early in the morning looking like Chewbacca, you should hit the gym in the evening.

Sources

1. https://sleep.org/articles/exercise-time-of-day/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20673290
3. https://saveourbones.com/which-is-the-best-time-to-exercise-for-your-bones-morning-afternoon-or-evening/
4. https://www.mindtomusclefitness.com/best-time-to-workout/

Author Bio:

Eugene Gabriel has his B.Sc (Hons.) in Psychology. He has always been fascinated by the effects of good quality sleep, or the lack of it on human productivity and overall well-being. He has helped thousands of individuals suffering from sleeping problems by teaching them about the healthy changes they need to make in their lifestyle in order to sleep peacefully. Read his post on sleep and ideal bedroom designs. You can also follow him on twitter @eugenegabrielj.