The Best Time To Schedule Your Workout For Peak Performance

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If you’re a habitual early riser, there’s a good reason you might be having a tough time keeping energy levels high during your post-work boot camp class. In a recent, small study published in Current Biology, researchers tested the athletic performance of early, mid and late risers at multiple points throughout the day. What they discovered is that early risers performed best around noon, the intermediates during the late afternoon and the late risers needed more time to get moving (surprise, surprise), showing peak athleticism in the evening.

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And, this isn’t the first study to demonstrate similar findings. An earlier study found that Major League Baseball players who identified themselves as larks performed better during day games whereas night owls shined during late-afternoon and evening games.

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So if you’re a night owl who has an upcoming half-marathon that starts in the early morning, you may want to add “circadian coaching” to your training to help you perform your best on race day. Otherwise, try timing your workouts according to your body’s natural sleep type. Or you know, form a pick-up basketball team around a roster of players with likeminded sleep patterns and schedule practice accordingly.

By SELF

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