Not to be too obvious about it, but the best time to visit your local swimming pool is when it’s open! There’s no point making a long trip, finding parking, and then discovering that you’ve chosen the one day of the week when the pool opens late.

You should also familiarise yourself with the pool’s schedule: there are some days when even though it’s open, the pool – whether it’s an indoor pool or an outdoor pool – is less than an idyllic place to unwind or do a bit of personal training. And as we shall see, there are times of the day when your body is more ready for exercise than other times.

Swimming pools have their peak traffic times

When you’re swimming in your own in ground pool or your above ground pool, you can choose the times to swim. But public swimming pools, even the little fibreglass pool where the kids swim, have times of day when they are busier than others. Most schools schedule sports times for Friday afternoons, and those schools that don’t have a swimming pool make a bee-line for the local outdoor pool. This means that the majority of the lanes are taken over by school children. But you can avoid this peak hour water traffic by observing the pool’s schedule, or by asking one of the attendants at the office when the children come in for training. There are also times of the week when seniors take over the pool for exercise and these may also make the swimming pool more congested than usual. Again, check with the pool attendant.

When is the best time physically and mentally to swim?

It all depends on you and your daily rhythm. If you feel strongest and most active in the mornings, get up early, have something small to eat and a little fruit juice, and workout before you go to work or school. If you are an afternoon person who needs lunch in their tummies before they can exercise, workout right after school or work – start between 3.30pm and 6pm at night before dinner. If you’re a night owl and like the peace and quiet of the pool at night, swim about two hours after you’ve eaten dinner. Don’t work out in the morning to “get it done” or over with early. You won’t enjoy it, and it will become a chore that you will soon neglect. If you find that you leave things to the last minute, you’re probably better off getting up early and swimming first thing. See how you feel – when are you motivated? You’ll probably find that you get more done during the day and your nights are more relaxed.

Does your pool have the right chemistry?

• If there is an overwhelming smell of chlorine when you enter a public pool, there is either a very bad ventilation system in place and/or a high level of toxic chemicals called chloramines
• Try to shower and wash you hair straight after swimming and avoid very hot showers, as these open the pores of the skin and your skin will absorb more chlorine
• Indoor pools that are enclosed in a smallish area should be avoided; try to choose a pool that has high ceilings and lots of space around the pool area

By paying attention to when other groups are using your local swimming pool, and by making sure that you choose the right time of day for your routine and your body, you will spend many enjoyable hours at your local swimming pool and keep fit and healthy as well.