As a Registered Kinesiologist, increasing exercise adherence is one of the most important elements to an exercise prescription. Working with individuals to create a routine that best fits into their day can be a challenging element however.
There are so many factors that affect when we should exercise throughout the day. We often need to take into consideration work schedules, family schedules, hobbies/interests, travel and maybe other responsibilities like volunteer work or taking care of a loved one. All these things can take up a significant amount of time in a day, and then we are attempting to add something else into your already busy schedule? How can this be possible?!
Ultimately, we need to allow for a ‘trial and error’ phase to see what works best. Usually to start, we are often asked, ‘What is the best time to exercise?’ or ‘What is the optimal time to exercise?’ This can be a very tricky question to answer! For all things related to health and exercise, we look to the research. But when it comes to the research on ‘Best time to exercise’, well, it’s still relatively inconclusive. As noted, there are so many factors that come into play here. Sometimes running through a Pro/Con list to figure out what might work best could be helpful. By no means is this a complete list, but here are some of the common considerations for exercise timing:
More often than not, I find myself recommending exercise in the morning to increase the likelihood of exercise adherence. If a particular morning doesn’t work out, then you have another opportunity in the evening. In the end, it is whatever works best for you! Regardless of the time that you choose, always make sure to tell someone where you are going, drink plenty of water (unless recommended otherwise), listen to your body and try to have fun!
If you are looking for some help to make regular exercise part of your daily routine, consider booking an appointment with a Kinesiologist at your local Family Health Team.
For more information about any of the free services offered by the Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team, visit www.mmfht.ca or call the Drayton/Palmerston office at 519-638-2110 or Clifford office at 519-327-4777. Like the team on Facebook (Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team) for healthy living tips and information on upcoming programs and events in the area.
– Nick Serafini is a Registered Kinesiologist with the Upper Grand Family Health Team