Morning, midday, and evening walks offer different perks.
Learn what sleep experts, an RD, and fitness pro say is the best time to walk.
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board-certified physician, certified sleep specialist, sleep coach, and founder ofThe Solution is Sleep
We eat breakfast in the morning, lunch at midday, and dinner in the evening.
We might make our bed after we get up.
Webrush our teethin the morning and then again at night (right?).
One of those things?
Whether youre struting on a#HotGirlWalkor taking a leisurely stroll, thebenefits of walkingare numerous.
For starters, walking improves cardiorespiratory fitness, its linked to longevity, and aids gut health and digestion.
However, there are specific benefits, and potential downsides, of walking at certain times during the day.
Get their answers below.
Is there a best time of day to walk?
board-certified physician, certified sleep specialist, sleep coach, and founder ofThe Solution is Sleep
The answer: Yes and no.
In other words, the best time to walk is whatever will usually fit in your day.
It also helps to increase your serotonin production, which is needed for melatonin production at night.
In fact, a midday or evening walk each boast their own benefits.
That could make you feel dizzy or sluggish.
Some people can exercise in the morning without eating, but others might get nauseous.
The key is understanding your body.
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Most of us have this midday [decline] in alertness, she says.
Soto also points out that a midday walk would be great for folks whose jobs arent physical.
This can help fight thenegative effects of being stationaryfor too long.
Weneverwant to skip meals, so I see that as a downfall.
Taking a midday walk may disrupt workflow or require rearranging tasks, which can impact productivity, he says.
If this is you, remember that even a five-minute walk would be helpful to your stress levels.
(Plus, work will still be there when you get back.)
Additionally, points out Soto, taking a post-dinner walk definitely helps with digestion.
Thats becausewalking actually speeds up the process by which your food is broken downand used for nutrients.
(The more ya know.)
Depending on where you live, safety concerns might keep you from wandering your neighborhood alone after dark.
She suggests limiting your sunlight exposure to two hours before your bedtime.
See if you’re able to get others to join you.
Keeping each other accountable and making it social can help make it enjoyable.
Above all, though, it bears repeating: Thebesttime to walk is whenever youre doing it.
You know, one small step and all that.
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