I received a question today from the fabulous Lauren Berger a.k.a Intern Queen (Check out www.quarterlife.com/internships to find out more about Lauren.)
Q: When’s the best time to fit in exercise?
A: Everyone’s body is a little different. Some people really enjoy getting up at 5 a.m. and sweating and other people find exercise puts them to sleep at 11 p.m. at night. Unfortunately, I’m not either one of those people and it’s way too easy for me to hit snooze or fall asleep if I plan to exercise at these extreme times. I find that these two time spots for exercise work well for me: Either 2-3 p.m. or 5-6 p.m.
During the winter, 2-3 p.m. can be a great time to get out before the sun goes down but after I’ve gotten organized for the day and accomplished some significant tasks. The mid-afternoon is most people’s lowest energy times so it’s also a good way to make use of typically unproductive time.
If the days are longer or you belong to a gym, 5-6 p.m. can also be a great time to work out (or whenever you end your work day). Telling yourself that you get to go exercise and take care of yourself is a great incentive to be focused throughout your work time. Also, it’s a fantastic way to clear your mind of business thoughts before heading into personal time.
If you’re having trouble keeping the commitment to yourself to work out, especially after work, I highly recommend planning to meet a friend at the gym or to go on a walk or hike. This will allow you to effectively multi-task (social and exercise time) and keep you accountable to get moving.
What are your thoughts? When do you exercise?
Leave a Reply