6 Ways to Incorporate a Workout Into Your Morning

“Working out in the morning is not for everyone,” or at least that is the excuse I have given myself in the past as I hit the snooze button for the 3rd time. I have never been a morning person. Sometimes it takes more strength to throw off the covers and get out of bed for a workout than it does to max out on bench press.

However, the end of summer is upon us and instead of waiting for New Year’s Day to make a change, we are hoping to inspire you snoozers to turn over a new leaf and look forward to your morning workout.

1. Plan your outfit and gather your gear the night before. Don’t let a lack of clean gym clothes be an excuse to miss a workout. Make sure you have your clothes and any necessary equipment ready to go when your alarm goes off. Packing everything in a bag with a snack, water, and shower necessities makes the process easy. You may even want to sleep in your gym clothes (no one will know except us). 

2. Make an appointment or set a reminder on your phone. Our days are scheduled down to the minute. We rush to grab morning coffee and we are lucky to get a chance to eat breakfast before our first meeting. You won’t miss an appointment with the doctor, but you will skip a workout if you don’t schedule it (which may prevent the need for a doctor to begin with).

3. Find a partner. Including a buddy in your workout schedule builds in accountability because of the commitment involved in being there on time and ready to work. No one wants to let his friends down, and this works to your advantage in forcing you out of bed to meet your friend at the gym. Consider having several different workout partners on alternating days that can keep you entertained and energized through your workouts. If you are a runner, you may consider having some partners that are faster than you in order to challenge you.

4. Have a nighttime routine. Having a nighttime routine promotes sleep by letting your brain know that it is time for rest. Be sure to eliminate any electronics at least 90 minutes prior to bed. Also, going to bed and getting up at the same time every day promotes better sleep through the regulation of circadian rhythms.

5. Get enough rest. This probably means getting to bed earlier. Science has shown that the optimal amount of sleep is between 6-8 hours. Be sure to get enough rest not only to feel less sleepy, but to promote proper recovery from your workout.

6. Start with shorter workouts. Make your workout shorter than usual, and then build to a longer period as your body adjusts to the new hours.

The benefits of working out in the morning are numerous. A morning workout jump starts your metabolism, increases energy for the day, releases those feel-good endorphins, increases mental acuity for several hours, and really sets a positive tone for the remainder of the day.

Now get out there and #findyourstride!