The benefits of going to the gym can be plentiful and include improved fitness and energy. Your mental health may get a boost, too. When is the best time to go to the gym, though? ZOZOFIT knows that there is no single answer that applies to everyone, and even what's right for you can change over time. In a nutshell, the best time to go to the gym is whenever works best for you but there are still other factors to consider.

The Best Time To Go to the Gym for You

Here are six possibilities for times to try going to the gym.

1. When the Gym Is Less Busy

People who prefer a more peaceful workout can try to figure out when is the gym least busy. Often, this means early morning and late at night are the best times to go to the gym. However, these times can vary considerably by gym and locality.

When you go at less busy times, you may be able to focus more. However, if you’re a more social person or the gym is one of your social outlets, you may do just fine at busy times. The wait for equipment could be longer, but many gyms offer enough variety to keep everyone there working out productively and meeting goals such as weight loss or increased muscle mass.

2. When Your Energy Levels Are High

Your body’s natural rhythms can play a big role in when you have the motivation to go to the gym. If you are a night owl, it may be counterproductive to keep telling yourself, “I will go tomorrow morning,” and then rarely actually make it to the gym. People who tend to have greater energy in the late afternoon and evening may enjoy workouts later in the day as a way to unwind or relieve stress.

On the other hand, early birds feel more mentally alert and motivated in the morning. Working out  before they dive into the bulk of their day can kickstart their metabolism, making morning the best time to go to the gym.

3. When You Are Consistently Free

If possible, try to go to the gym in the same general time frame every day. Building a consistent routine can help you meet fitness goals. Trying to haphazardly squeeze in your gym time when open windows come up can be stressful and reduce the potential benefits of your workouts.

4. On Your Lunch Break

Some people love to hit the weights or the treadmill on their lunch break. Lunch may be the best time to go to the gym for you thanks to its many advantages:

• Routine: The chances of work or personal commitments interfering with gym time are relatively low.
• Efficiency: Since you’re working out during your work day, you still have the same amount of free time before and after work.
• Productivity: Going to the gym at midday can rejuvenate your brain and body for the rest of the day.
• Proximity: You may have access to more gyms near your workplace than you do at home. Some employers even have gyms on site.
• Nutrition: Working out during your lunch hour can motivate you to eat more healthily. 

Exercising with co-workers or friends who work nearby can be a good motivator, too. Also, while gyms can be moderately busy at lunchtime, they tend to be noticeably busier right after work.

Lunchtime gym sessions are not for everyone, though. For example, you may struggle to find the time to shower after your workout or eat your lunch. This could particularly be the case if you have only have a short lunch break.

However, it could still be the best time for you to go to the gym. Consider giving up, say, 15 minutes of the time you might otherwise spend at the gym for showering or eating lunch. Going to the gym for 30 minutes instead of 45 can ensure you do it consistently, and it's better than throwing in the towel and not going to the gym at all because you can't work out for 45 minutes.

Another approach is to do a less intense workout if that means you won’t need to shower afterward. Being able to exercise, even if it is not as intense as you would prefer, beats not exercising at all.

5. When Your Favorite Classes Are

Finding the proper motivation tends to be the secret to unlocking the best time to go to the gym. Gym classes are varied to meet different interests, fitness goals, and abilities.

Examples include spinning (indoor cycling), Zumba, yoga, pilates, kickboxing, karate, aqua aerobics, and CrossFit. If there’s a class or two you really enjoy, see if you can go to the gym during that time. It’s often worth at least trying to see if you can move a few things around in your schedule.

6. Whenever You Can

Variables such as how busy the gym gets at certain times and whether you prefer to work out in the morning or at night can affect when you’d like to go to the gym. However, the main thing is to get there in the first place.

If you have only one window in your day to make it to the gym, that window is probably your best time. Even better is if it allows for a routine you can stay with for months. If you don’t like that time, perhaps because it makes you wake up before you are ready to, you may still have options. Look into combining errands to free up time or going to a gym closer to work or home.

If your schedule is flexible, experiment with the various time slots to see what gets you exercising most consistently. Aim for times when your energy and motivation are high.

Tracking the Results of the Best Time To Go to the Gym

The best time to go to the gym is whenever it works for you, but figuring that out can take time and experimentation. Tracking your progress can also help with motivation - if you're seeing results, you're going to want to continue to go to the gym to keep improving. You can do that accurately through the ZOZOFIT app's 3D body scanning technology. All you need is a ZOZOSUIT and your smartphone, and you'll be set to take control of your fitness today!