The time of day you work out matters more than you think.
It is widely accepted knowledge that people who work out get better sleep. The stress-relieving benefits alone are enough to help you get a better night’s rest, to say nothing of your overall health. That being said, working out right before bed isn’t recommended because the rush of endorphins can keep you awake.
Exercising early in the morning works for many people, but that timeframe is so far away from your bed time that you are unlikely to reap the other benefits of exercise. Exercising in the morning will also train your body to wake up at a certain time, which can be problematic if you don’t get to sleep at the same time every night.
The best time to exercise for sleep is about 5 hours before you hit the bed (after work, for most people). Exercising around this time will release endorphins and give you energy, but you will have plenty of time to burn that energy and eat before bed. You are also more likely to work out harder at the end of the day than at the beginning.
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1-2 hours before bed, your body temperature drops slightly as part of the winding down process. Exercising during this timeframe will only make you stay up longer.
Everyone is different, so naturally everyone’s workout window will differ slightly. If you have problems sleeping though, consider rearranging your workouts to the evening, and see if it makes a difference in your sleeping routine and overall health.