subject: What Is The Best Time To Jog? [print this page] Jogging is a very popular pastime with multiple health benefits. Some people like to go first thing in the morning and find it is good preparation for the day. Others believe running in the evening is a good way to wind down after a long, hard day. In this article I will be discussing both sides of the argument and try to determine the best time to jog.
1) JOGGING IN THE MORNING CAN MAKE YOU MORE ALERT:- For a lot of people it takes a few hours to properly wake up in the morning. During the first few hours we are generally sluggish and slower than usual. However, doing some exercise in the morning such as jogging can make you feel alert relatively quickly. It gets the blood flowing, warms your muscles up and gets your brain working more quickly. This feeling of increased alertness generally carries through to the afternoon and can make you better prepared to face the day.
2) JOGGING IN THE MORNING IS USUALLY LESS DISTRACTING:- In the evening there are countless distractions. Something could happen at work meaning you have to stay late. Alternatively, you could get home and be asked to pick up some groceries for the family. Or you may get chatting on the phone and lose track of the time. All of the above can lead to you abandoning your evening run.
However, by going jogging early in the morning you can avoid all these distractions. Most people are asleep so family, friends and phone calls are unlikely to distract you from your run. Plus, if something does come up at work you have already been for a jog so it will not affect you.
3) JOGGING IN THE EVENING CAN HELP YOU WIND DOWN:- If you have had a particularly tough day going for a run in the evening is a great way to wind down. Not only is it a great physical release for any anger or stress that has built up during the day but it is also a fantastic mental release. Jogging gives you time to deal with these emotions and also promotes the release of mood boosting endorphins, allowing you to be in a better mental state before you go to bed.
As you can see there are benefits to both early morning and late evening jogs. But what is the best time to jog? To be honest, it depends entirely on the individual and their lifestyle. Some people may be exposed to countless distractions in the evening and prefer an early morning run. Other people will have a lot of free time in the evenings and prefer to end their day with a jog. I hope this article has explained both sides of the argument to you and helped you make a decision on this topic.