With all the time you’ve got on your hands, mummy (yeah, right...), you’re probably wondering which of your many idle hours each day to devote to exercise.
The best advice I can give you is to choose the time of day when it is easiest for you to schedule your workouts and stick with your plan. No matter how motivated you are to be one of those morning jog chicks, if you’ve got 4 kids to get out the door to school and a hubby who works the night shift, morning is probably not your “zen” time. Perhaps you might aim for a pre-lunch, post laundry jog or an after-school workout while your husband hangs out with the little ones. The point is, be realistic about your daily schedule and choose the time that you are least likely to blow off your workout plans.
One thing mommies can almost always count on: naptime and bedtime. Try scheduling your workouts while baby is sleeping or after the kids are in bed for the evening.
Got a no-napper? Or a night-owl? Try a workout you can do with your little one in a carrier or a quick 10-minute workout that won’t derail your busy day.
So, now... back to our original question. Perhaps you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant and still living in a child-free universe. Maybe you are an empty-nester or have teenaged kids who don’t demand as much of your schedule as they used to... I hate you. Good for you! You have options!
If you have a choice, what time of day is best for a workout?
Morning
Morning is the time of day I personally recommend most frequently to my clients. Morning can be 6:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m., depending on your lifestyle and schedule - the key is that exercise is one of the very first things you do in the day. Why? Almost nothing can interfere with a morning exercise appointment – really... how often do you get invited out for drinks at 6:00 a.m.? Studies show morning exercisers are most successful at sticking with their workout plans. That’s enough reason for me.
Morning workouts also:
Rev the metabolism for the day
Give you an energy buzz to start your work day
Make you feel as if you’ve accomplished something important and help you feel more positive for the rest of the day
Afternoon/Evening
More and more studies are coming out with evidence that some of the best strength and endurance gains can be made later in the day, when the body’s core temperature is higher. Great! On the other hand, exercising too late in the evening can rev your body and brain up too close to bedtime, making it difficult to fall asleep. If you like late evening workouts (and it is one of the most common workout times for working mommies), consider a more moderate workout and save the sprints and more vigorous exercise for days you can work out earlier. Generally, though, late afternoon and evening workouts are probably the optimal time for muscle building.
Afternoon/evening workouts also:
Are less likely to cause injury because muscles and ligaments are warmer
Can help relieve the day’s stress
Different days bring different challenges, so sometimes a combination of early and later 
workouts are best over the course of a week. My top tip for scheduling is to look at your week ahead of time, perhaps in a few quiet moments on the weekend, and schedule your workouts for the week ahead. Use your daybook or your PDA and make appointments with yourself, even if they're just 10 or 20 minutes each.
One day, you'll have enough time to decide whether you're a morning exerciser or an evening exerciser. I promise.
Which works best for you - morning or evening? Do you feel a difference in your body depending on the time you exercise?
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