Morning Exercise Can Help Improve Routine, Energy

Though any exercise at any time is better than no exercise at all, there is some thought that choosing to exercise in the morning has more benefits than exercise at other times of day. 

Exercising first thing in the morning is a great way to commit to getting in your workout routine before having any excuses of being too busy, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Just like any other appointment on the calendar, block off time for exercise and commit to making it a priority, according to the NIH. Finding an exercise partner, being creative in your workout routine, and having confidence in your workout plan can also all help you exercise consistently.

It’s possible that working out in the morning could help increase someone’s metabolism because of the increased levels of testosterone produced by the body overnight, according to the National Institute for Fitness and Sport (NIFS). Taking advantage of the morning testosterone boost can help build muscles more efficiently. 

Overall, however, a morning workout increasing metabolism can be true for some people and not true for others, according to the NIFS. If you work out in the morning, for example, but don’t put in the same effort you would in the afternoon, your metabolism won’t increase based solely on the time of day.

The American Heart Association (AHA) says that though there could be some metabolism benefits from working out in the morning, those benefits are not great enough to say that the morning is the best time to exercise. 

Working out consistently, according to the AHA, is much more important than the time of day you work out.

Morning exercise has been found to have other benefits, however. According to the NIFS, working out in the morning can help increase your energy level for the day. Exercise increases oxygen and nutrients throughout your body, which can give you an energy boost.

Exercise benefits both short-term and long-term memory, and morning exercise has been found to boost brain function and memory recall, according to the NIH. It also can help improve your ability to focus on tasks throughout the day.

For more information about the best time of day to exercise, talk with your doctor or visit our Orthopedics page to find a physician.