I never feel like exercising, doesn't matter what time of the day it is. In the morning I feel the need to get to work (I'm a night owl so get up later). But by the time I'm done working, my ability to motivate myself is used up.

I managed some consistency after I read "10k pushups and other silly exercise quests that changed my life[1]."

I modified the plan so I'm doing pushups and squats, so going for 10K of each. I started in late November and I'm currently just shy of 4K each.

I have a couple family members kind of doing it with me, which has helped a little. But the key for me was a very small time commitment that didn't involve changing clothes.

I can do them basically whenever I think about them, although I've found a sweet spot in the morning when I change into day clothes. It's not perfect, I still miss a small number of days, but on the days I do them, I do more. Because I realized the hardest part for me, by far, is getting started. So, on the days I start, I do just a bit more (40-60 each total, instead of 30), to make up for the days I'll miss.

But, yah...I still don't feel like exercising...ever. I've just hacked that "nahhh" impulse to be "it'll be over before you know it" and that has worked for whatever reason. Probably, because it literally takes less than five minutes and, when it's that quick, the "just get it over with" drive has a chance of winning most days.

You might think putting in that little time doesn't make a difference but it's very noticeable in both my rep counts, recovery time, and physique. When I started, it was hard for me to get in a single set of 20 push-ups. I'd get to 30 with two sets. Now, on a regular day, I can do a single set of 40 and on a day when I'm feeling good, I can hit 60. The consistency really does add up.

1: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45456188

I too don't feel like exercising after work, or at 6 in the morning. And many years ago I determined that without exercise my life is a living hell. Simply, I need to push weights and exert myself physically to keep mentally sane.

So I've found work that works for me, as in, I can go to the gym at lunch, which is when I feel good about working out.

Make your routine work for you, and not the other way around. Prioritising yourself is exactly like the plane safety announcement, place the mask on your face before assisting others, because you're no good to them passed out. Same thing with your health, make it a priority to look after yourself and feel good, or you won't be your be able to help anyone, and you won't be a good version of yourself people will want to hang with.

The article didn't really answer the question of whether the right time of day helps you feel like exercising. Just that you might get more out of the exercise you choose to do.

As someone who is more of a night owl, I just don't seem to be able to put out the same effort in the early morning than I can in the evening, whether it be in the gym or on the bike. I'm much more tired and I just can't seem to push as hard as I can in the evenings.

When exercising frequently it can still be really difficult to exercise and I try help that by tuning down the intensity of the workout if I am really feeling off, that way I'm not adding insult to injury by having a touch workout on a day I'm not feeling it.