Ah, the age old question from those trying to incorporate healthier habits into their daily routines: is there an ideal time to break a sweat every day? The answer is… sort of. Sometimes. It depends. Are we already helping?
Movement of any kind is beneficial to the body, but “movement” comes in many forms, some of which may be more helpful at certain times than others. Holistic nutritionist and founder of Soul Wellness Method, Shauna FaulisiShe knows that the word “holistic” applies to all aspects of our health, so her practices don’t just start and end in the kitchen. We always follow her dynamic adventures in exercise, so we turned to her for the secret sauce to perfectly time our sweat sessions.
“I love to exercise in the morning!” Shauna tells us with a gleam.
“It sets the tone for the day and activates dopamine, the achievement hormone that you’ve accomplished something productive.” Who doesn’t like to start their day with a happy… er, HIIT punch?
“Exercising in the morning comes with a host of benefits that fuel your day. Think of it as ‘An object in motion stays in motion’. From a biological and scientific point of view, the higher the levels of dopamine in your body, the greater your alertness, focus, creativity, and concentration throughout the day – all key components we need to have a great day. and feel really good about ourselves. . Dopamine is the motivational molecule that drives you to seek rewards to achieve your goals and allows you to put in the effort it takes to succeed.
“We are all different and we have different times of the day when we feel like we have more energy. For me, I love working out in the morning because it sets the mood for my day. I feel amazing in my body, my brain is clear, and I tend to make decisions that serve my short-term and long-term goals when I feel good about myself.
“It’s not always possible to exercise in the morning, so I’ll go for a walk after dinner without the phone to clear my head and stimulate lymphatic drainage and digestion. Some of my clients do very well with an evening workout and find that it doesn’t affect their sleep at all. I am the opposite [when it comes to high intensity]but I have learned to be kind to myself, no matter how the day unfolds.”
If you’re not sure if a late-night workout will disrupt your sleep routine, go ahead and test that theory! But it’s important to note that higher-intensity workouts increase the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which can make you feel jittery before you lie down to rest, rather than feeling tired simply from burning off caloric energy.
Getting your heart rate up closer to bedtime is another factor that can prevent sound, restful sleep from coming your way, so be sure to give your body plenty of time to wind down. Three hours before bed is plenty of time for many, and practices like gentle yoga won’t have this cardiac effect.
“When thinking about movement from a time of day standpoint, it’s important to remember that any movement is important! Movement, one of the six pillars of the Soul Wellness Method, is an important aspect of our being. Movement allows us to shake things up, gives us new thoughts and ideas, fires up our brains, and can be very cathartic. We are meant to move. This can be as simple as walking; walking is very powerful,” says Shauna.
The bottom line? Give it a try and see what time you feel best based on your schedule, stress levels, and sleep quality. Science has no real preferences; you are the director of what feels good in your body.
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