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What time do you exercise if you work FT and don't WFH?

80 replies

roamingcat · 10/03/2024 18:36

Hi all,

Bit of a silly question I know but I've always struggled to work out the best time of day to exercise around my job and to keep things consistent. I work FT (36 hours a week plus whatever I take for lunch) and don't WFH, my commute is about an hour each way. I'm really lucky that I have flexi-time so can start work anytime between 7-10am and can work less/more each day as I like as long as it evens out overall. However, I think the unexpected downside of this flexibility is I have always struggled to make an exercise routine stick as I don't have core hours to anchor it around.

My current routine is quite limited - I try and run 5k 1-3 times a week. I would like to add in some at home yoga videos for flexibility and have dumbells I could use to do some strength training. I've also been wondering if I should move to a compressed pattern - I could compress 10 days into 9 by only doing an extra 40 minutes a day and then could probably WFH on one or both of the other extra days (or take annual leave). The added complication is I also try and stick to intermittent fasting for health reasons, so eating before a run in the morning would require me to change this routine.

Looking from inspiration for you all - if you work full time and don't usually WFH and have a solid exercise routine what time of day do you exercise? What do you do on which days?

OP posts:
Minikievs · 10/03/2024 19:39

I go on the way home from the office. Gym is on my way home. I generally do a class after work most days and get home around 7.15.
On the day when DC has an activity and I can't go to the gym, I spend an hour and a half marching round a housing estate getting my steps in.
At weekends I do early morning classes while DC are in bed.

ForeverWinter · 10/03/2024 19:35

I work 4 days, 2 in office, 2 from home.

On my office days the gym isn't open before my train so i'll do 30 minutes of core at 4am, commute to work then go to the gym on my way home

On my 2 days at home i'll swim/gym in the morning (gym opens at 6) then walk the dog over lunch

SpacesNotTabs · 10/03/2024 19:32

I have a similarly flexible job, I run two lunchtimes a week, generally about 5k, and take a longer break to change and shower. I could probably do it in an hour, but I faff about a bit and it takes 90 minutes to run, get a cup of tea and eat my lunch so I make the time up later. I am really not a morning person, which means I would never get my arse in gear to do it before work, but also means I start later and wouldn't fancy going after work.

I am also s'posed to go to karate twice a week, that's after work on the days I work a shorter day (I'm still part time at 33 hours a week)

OhMehGoddess · 10/03/2024 19:30

Up 6:15 am. Shower at 7:30 after HITT cardio in the kitchen. Work at 9. Hybrid working, mostly in the office though.

Don't have time to go to the gym. Weekend I sacrifice long lie ins too.
My youngest is turning 8 soon and my oldest will be 16 soon too. So easier now.

But sacrifice sleep mostly.

Catopia · 10/03/2024 19:28

I try to do before work if I can - I find I start negotiating with myself too much if I wait until the evenings, and also because if I then get stuck at work, which seems to be the rule rather than the exception right now, it then doesn't happen.

However, I find I get more quality in the evenings, so very much depends what the session is! It also depends a little on the work day ahead - if I have to look particularly put together I tend to leave it until the evening!

Lovetotravel123 · 10/03/2024 19:27

I’m a teacher working from 8am - 4pm, with about an hour’s commute. I do bootcamp three evenings a week and then yoga at home on Saturday and Sunday.

PlugUgly1980 · 10/03/2024 19:24

Bed by 9:30, up at 4:45, out running by 5:30 for an hour, then home, shower, prep something for tea before leaving for work at 7:00.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 10/03/2024 19:21

I work compressed hours now, so I work 4 days a week. My commute is 3 hours a day, and I leave the house at 6.30 am and get home at 6.30 pm (sometimes earlier, depends on trains/buses). If I was doing that every single day I wouldn't exercise! I workout on my day off, and both weekend days 🙂

Jeannie88 · 10/03/2024 19:17

Same here, assuming you don't have DC? Those days I used to all my fitness on evenings and weekends, no opportunity to wfh. After DC me and DH have to plan them. He does wfh and can do them in his lunch break, I can't, so higher priority for me on evenings. Not that we push ourselves now, I'm exhausted after my job and parenting so not as active as I used to be. Xx

flippyfloppy · 10/03/2024 19:16

Try to get into bed for 10, alarm goes off 455.

ToBeOrNotToBee · 10/03/2024 19:16

I cycle to work. That's my exercise.

Covetthee · 10/03/2024 19:16

HereForTheFreeLunch · 10/03/2024 19:01

So those who go to the gym at 4/5/6 am... when do you get to sleep?

I’m in bed by 8:30 and then try to be asleep by 9:30 the latest.

AbsoluteStateOfThis · 10/03/2024 19:12

Dyed in the wool night owl. Early mornings are my idea of hell. I go to 24 hour gyms close to midnight!

MsRosewater · 10/03/2024 19:11

Also go bed 9.30 for 10;00 sleep. Up 5:30 so no food but make smoothie for later

WhoaJayShettybambalam · 10/03/2024 19:09

I chose a gym near to my work as I also have an hour commute so I leave the house at 6am, work out 7-8am and then have an hour to shower, dress and sort my life out.

@HereForTheFreeLunch sleep 10pm-5am.

AbsoluteStateOfThis · 10/03/2024 19:08

I lift heavy heavy weights. I go to the gym late at night when working in London. At home I go when DD is at cadets one night (7:30-9pm) and then twice at the weekend. I also do intermittent fasting and don’t eat till after 2pm so regularly do weekend workouts completely fasted/after a decaf coffee.

MsRosewater · 10/03/2024 19:08

Work 50+ hours per week, do spin class 6:15 3 x per week (followed by by circuit if no early meetings£ & 08:00 on Saturday, swim with
DD age 6 and yoga on Sunday

Commute 1hr average, get to wfh once a week or so

persisted · 10/03/2024 19:03

HereForTheFreeLunch · 10/03/2024 19:01

So those who go to the gym at 4/5/6 am... when do you get to sleep?

Bed by 10:30, up at 5:30. Out the door by 6.

HereForTheFreeLunch · 10/03/2024 19:01

So those who go to the gym at 4/5/6 am... when do you get to sleep?

flippyfloppy · 10/03/2024 18:59

Attend classes 5:30-6:30am 3-4 days/week. Home for 645am. Out to work for 8. I love that it frees my nights up.

Travellingislife · 10/03/2024 18:58

And yeah I don’t eat before the gym, I’ll have a coffee and then eat when I get back. Porridge or overnight oats which I make before I leave for the gym.

AtomicBlondeRose · 10/03/2024 18:57

I get up at 6.05 every morning and either do a Caroline Girvan video (4x week) or run one day. Leave for work/school run at 7.45. Works fine and means I have to be disciplined about packing lunch and sorting clothes the night before. I don’t eat breakfast though which saves some time.

Travellingislife · 10/03/2024 18:54

6am when the gym opens and DH is at home with the kids, I wish they opened at 5am so I could get 2h done. At the weekends I usually go the same time as I’m in the routine and if I don’t do it first thing it usually won’t happen.

BarrelOfOtters · 10/03/2024 18:53

No kids. Trying to get in the routine of 3 gym mornings start 6.30 so up at 6 and one evening Pilates. The gym is a circuits weight class.

that means I can do something else in the evening like dog walk or whatever. Otherwise I don’t get back from gym till 7 pm and by the time I’ve eaten….well..

it works coz gym is 10 minutes away by car and my work is 20 minutes walk.

persisted · 10/03/2024 18:51

Run/swim/spin before work. Swim and spin are at the gym on the way to work.
Breakfast later on during tea break at work.

weight training at Gym on way home from work. Pilates is a late class once a week.