While getting physical activity at other times of the day is definitely beneficial, morning activity carries some real advantages.

First, it has been found that more than 90 percent of those who exercise consistently have a morning exercise routine. Many times unexpected events arise and push activity by the wayside. Morning physical activity helps us to be more consistent.

Second, physical activity in the morning jump starts your metabolism and keeps it elevated throughout the day. If you choose to be physically active at night, you’ll miss out on many of the benefits of an elevated metabolism.

Third, exercising in the morning gives you the satisfaction of knowing that you have already gotten in your activity for the day. You don’t have to worry about trying to juggle your workout time around a busy schedule as the day progresses.

Fourth, physical activity helps you to stay mentally alert. Think of the benefit of being mentally sharp all day — not just a few hours.

With physical activity, sometimes we carry an all-or-none mentality. We often think if we don’t get the activity we want just when we want it, then it’s not worth it. But research shows that an accumulation of just three 10-minute sessions a day can make a tremendous impact on our health. Every minute helps.

So many of us long for balance in our lives, but our lives will never be truly balanced until we make activity a vital part of our day. And, in the end, we don’t want to merely do our best — we want to do our balanced best.


TO OBTAIN OPTIMAL RESULTS FROM PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:

  • Find an activity or two you like; then vary it day to day so you don’t get bored doing the same thing.
  • Invest in good shoes and comfortable clothing.
  • Exercise with a friend — you’re more likely to do the activity if someone helps keep you accountable.
  • Try to get outside to take advantage of the health benefits of fresh air and sunshine.
  • Remember, no activity is too small. Mild and moderate activities such as walking or gardening show numerous health benefits.
  • Strength training is another important component of physical activity and can help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
  • To receive added benefits, aim to participate in physical activity in the morning.
  • Exercise at least three days a week with vigorous physical activity or at least five days a week if you are doing moderate physical activity.
  • For even better results, include interval training and intermittent training, which includes resting. And remember, you can participate in as short as three 10-minute sessions for a total of 30 minutes a day and still achieve great results.