It’s not news to anybody that we all should exercise at least a few times a week. The NHS recommends fitting in at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week for adults.
The NHS said: “People who exercise regularly have a lower risk of developing many long-term (chronic) conditions, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some cancers.
“Research shows that physical activity can also boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing your risk of stress, clinical depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.”
Ultimately, any movement is good and no exercise is a one-size-fits-all solution so whatever works for you and your body is what you should do, whether that’s yoga or running.
However, there is an ideal time to exercise for just about everybody.
Well, according to a study, your body’s ability to perform peaks in the afternoon.
This is because your body temperature increases throughout the day, optimising your muscle function and strength, enzyme activity, and endurance for performance.
Additionally, according to Healthline: “In the afternoon and evening, your reaction time is at its quickest, which is important for exercises like high-intensity interval training (HIIT), or speed work on the treadmill.
“The late afternoon is also the time when your heart rate and blood pressure are lowest, which decreases your chance of injury while improving performance.”
So, ideally, the best time to exercise is later in the afternoon or early in the evening if you hope to get the full benefits from your workout.
If you are nervous about getting back into the habit of exercising or have physical limitations, Bupa offers the following advice:
If you’re unsure about which exercises would work for you, speak to your GP or local gym.