Early mornings and workouts seem to go hand in hand for swimmers. With heavy coats on and bags slung over their shoulders, they slowly file into the locker room. And while they are awake, they don’t really feel attentive until the cold water of the pool shocks their system and they are halfway through the warm-up.
But do swimmers hop into the pool at 5 am because it’s the best time of day to swim? Not necessarily. There’s more to choosing a time to swim than optimizing performance.
Swimming in the morning can increase your productivity and help you stick to your training schedule. However, when you swim at night, you might see better splits in the water. According to experts, exercise and moving your body is less crucial than the time of day.
A Michael Phelps Signature Swim Spa makes swimming convenient. Whether you want to take a dip before work or de-stress at the end of the day, you can skip the commute and focus on your workout.
Reasons to swim in the morning
Swimming in the morning can be a great way to kickstart your day. A good workout can leave you feeling energized. Plus, you have the peace of mind that your swim is done.
But if you find it hard to set your alarm for 5 am (or earlier), you might need more reasons than those to swim in the morning.
Among the benefits of morning workouts:
Consistency. Research shows that people are more likely to stick to a fitness routine when they workout in the morning. Why? Just think about it; How many times does your boss schedule a 6 am meeting? Your friends certainly aren’t going to schedule brunch at 7 am. People who have a highly scheduled day might find it easier to add a workout in the morning.
Crowds. If one person struggles to get up at 5 am, there are certainly others. You might find that there are fewer crowds in the water when you opt for a pre-dawn session.
Mental health. Swimming is a total body workout that can improve your endurance and strength. But being in the water can also help you manage stress. Morning exercise combined with the rhythm of your strokes and breathing can put you in a positive headspace.
Training in the afternoon and evening
Stiff muscles, lack of energy, family obligations. For some people, the early morning is not the best time of day to swim.
But could science be on their side?
Studies show that people can perform better at their given sport later in the day. Why? First, you have had all day to warm up. You have been moving around and your body temperature is higher, which can help when you are trying to swim hard sets.
There are more benefits to swimming in the afternoon and evening, though.
Mental reset. Do you find you just need a break in the middle of the day? Using your lunch break to swim or even going after work can help you relieve stress and clear your mind. You might feel more mentally prepared, too, to go home and enjoy a relaxing evening.
Recovery time. When you workout in the morning, it can be challenging to make time for recovery. You have to eat breakfast, go to work, or shuttle kids to school. When you swim in the afternoon or evening, you can focus on getting in a good meal and recovering.
Anticipation. There can be a lot to do throughout the day. When you schedule a night swim, you are giving yourself something to look forward to. A healthy sense of anticipation can help you feel energized and motivate you to get through any challenges that arise throughout the day.
Sleep better. Working out in the evening might give you an initial jolt of energy. However, you don’t have to worry about that swim keeping you up at night. Some research shows that people sleep after exercising at night. However, exercise and physical activity — including swimming — can help improve your sleep, regardless of when you log your schedule.
Swimming on your schedule
Swimming is a great way to get a full-body workout. It can strengthen your arm, leg and core muscles and exercise your cardiovascular system. However, finding the time to swim can be more challenging than the workout.
While you might want to pick a time of day that feels “best,” it might not be that easy. You might not be motivated to workout in the morning; the pool might be closed; or the commute to the gym might be prohibitive.
But you can create a swimming routine that fits your schedule and when you feel your best.
A Michael Phelps Signature Swim Spa allows you to swim at home and at your own pace, whether you have 20 minutes for a workout for a full hour.
Swim spas feature a current of water that allows you to swim in place. Michael Phelps models have speed settings from zero to 100, and you can swim as fast as 54 seconds per 100-meter pace in the spa.
For morning swimmers, there’s no more waiting for the lifeguard to show up or feeling the shock of the cold water. Nor do you have to spend the first 1,000 meters of your swim trying to wake up and warm up. You can hop in a Michael Phelps swim spa at 4 am, if that’s best for your schedule. You can also choose your water temperature, maybe a more comfortable 86 degrees, so it’s not such a shock to your system.
Do you enjoy swimming at night? You don’t have to stop at the pool on your way home. You can just go home to swim. Skipping the locker room, you can head straight to the spa and know that you are going to have the water to yourself. Maybe you swim while your partner is cooking dinner or you head out after the kids go to sleep.
There are days, though, when you might have 15 minutes in the morning and a half-hour in the afternoon. While some pools might require two separate lane reservations, you can easily log two-a-days without feeling stressed.
Too often, we worry too much about working out at the best time of day or getting in the perfect session. The stress can hold us back, though. We might not get in the water at all. However, the convenience and comfort of a Michael Phelps swim spa can help you make swimming a regular part of your routine.
How to buy a swim-in-place pool
Are you ready to enjoy the benefits of swimming, recreation, and relaxation year-round? Having a Master Spas swim spa at home allows you to train at your pace so you can swim your best. You can click here to get more backyard ideas and picture what a Master Spas swim spa would look like in your space. Or, contact your local Master Spas retailer to learn more about swim spa ownership. Wondering how much a swim spa costs? You can request a quote here.