A few months ago, I would rofl right then and there if you told me I would become a morning workout person. However, here we are. Its official. I am now a morning exerciser. I can say with complete honesty that it is the best decision I have made in terms of my fitness lifestyle. I used to workout after work. What I mean by this is on the rare days that I actually felt enough energy to exercise after work, I would go and half-ass my efforts at the gym. I knew that schedule was not working for me, and I needed to make some changes. After a few months of morning workouts, I don’t think I’ll ever go back. I have not once regretted my decision to wake up early and hit the gym. I can’t say the same for the days I chose to hit snooze too long.
Benefits to Morning Workouts
- Endorphins in the morning? Yes please.
- Start your day on track –> When you begin with exercise, you are motivated to eat well and make healthy decisions for the remainder of the day.
- Waking up for something I truly love, not just waking up for work.
- My evenings are free! Hello watching This is Us and Wheel of Fortune live.
- I don’t have anything sitting on my shoulders all day. When I get off work, I get to go straight home and enjoy some pretty great company.
Becoming a Morning Exerciser
Just like anything in life, in order to make this transition, you must be realistic and disciplined. It is extremely simple to continue to make excuses as to why you’re not working to be the best YOU you can be. Give these steps at least three consecutive days with true dedication, and I promise you will start to love being awake before the sun.
1. Have a plan
Alright so I used to be a teacher, and you know us teachers: PLAN, PLAN, PLAN. Why? It HELPS and it WORKS. You may be an avid gym goer trying to switch up your gym schedule, or you may be a complete newbie to exercise. Either way, you need to have a weekly plan. Spend some time researching a workout schedule for yourself if you don’t already have one. (Hello, Pinterest.) Whether you’re a runner, lifter, yogi, rock climber… whether you work out at home or at a gym .. ya need a plan. It doesn’t have to be fancy or elaborate, it just needs to exist. Once you have this in place, there is a more detailed purpose for you to wake up. Rather than “oh I need to wake up to get to the gym” you have “I need to wake up and go squat for leg day so my ass doesn’t deflate.” See the difference? Example,
- Monday – Legs
- Tuesday – Bis and Tris
- Wednesday – HIIT
- Thursday – Back and yoga
- Friday – Legs
- Saturday – Off day
- Sunday – Shoulders and HIIT
This can of course become much more detailed if you’re into that sorta thing. I totally am. Example,
- Monday – Legs (pulse squats, 10 reps 4 sets / leg press, 12 reps 4 sets/ yada, yada, yada)
2. Allow yourself to hit snooze … but no more than twice
This one might not be for everyone. If you’re anything like me, you love the luxury of telling the alarm off by pressing snooze. It just might be one of my favorite things to do. I set my alarm 20 minutes earlier than I actually need to be up to trick myself into thinking I get to sleep just a little bit longer. And lets be real. Sometimes I hit snooze twice … hence the 20 minutes early thing. Once I press snooze, I lay there half asleep, wishing for those next 9 minutes to defy all odds and take 2 hours to go by. They never do. But those 9 minutes give me a chance to feel like I’m being naughty and staying in bed longer than I should be. Once the minutes are up, I’ve had that moment of indulgence and am awake enough to hop out of bed. Sounds extremely dumb. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. (Disclaimer: your sleeping partner might punch you in the face if you keep pressing snooze… but at least you’re guaranteed to wake up then.)
3. Go to bed earlier
We all need our beauty sleep… some more than others. I’m unfortunately one of those “you don’t really want to talk to me unless I’ve had 8 hours of sleep” kind of people. Forreals, I just don’t function well without my 8 hours. Its simple math. If plan on waking up at 5:30, must sleep by 9:30. Depending on how many hours your body needs, adjust your bedtime. After a few days, your body starts to get into a groove and it becomes easier and easier. You will never become a morning exerciser if you don’t get enough sleep. Sleep is important. Sleep is good. Go to sleep early.
4. Wake up and smell the body wash
This one may just be the biggest game changer for me. The first thing I do once I am out of bed is hop in the shower. I know. You’re thinking .. this chick really just told me to shower before I go to the gym? Yes. I did. It wakes up the soul, people. Now I’m not going to sit here and lie to you and tell you I take a cold shower to wake me up. Absolutely not. I turn that shower knob all the way to the left to make it as hot as it goes. I hop on in with my shower cap on, and I wash my face and body. 3 minutes max. Not only does it wake me up, but I feel refreshed and clean and ready for the day. I used to try to go without a shower, and I never got out of that groggy I-have-drool-stains-on-my-cheek feeling. That shower guy is an underrated one.
5. Get down with your bad self
While you’re getting dressed, putting your shoes on, making your java, and packing your things to go, put in your headphones and listen to whatever your heart desires. If you weren’t already, you’ll start to feel very awake. You might even find yourself dancing, and if we get really crazy, you might even crack a smile. Some days this is music for me, most days it is a podcast. Find whatever makes you happy. Continue listening to this on your drive as well. You’ll be so focused on this, that you won’t be thinking “wow, I could still be in bed right now.” You’ll even start to look forward to these little solo sessions. Silence does nothing but continue to make you feel sleepy, and let your mind try to continue to talk yourself out of working out.
6. Set a routine
This one is huge. Having a routine makes all the difference. In order to be successful in the gym, you have to ensure you are properly taking care of your body. That means you’re eating well. If you are heading to work directly after the gym, make sure you have nutritious meals packed and ready to go. For some people, this may mean meal prep on Sunday. For others, it may mean packing breakfast, lunch, and snacks before you go to bed. Whatever works best for you, make it part of your routine. Once you have a routine set, you will lessen your stress load and go about your new workout schedule with ease. Snippet from my routine:
- Night before
- Go to sleep between 9:00-9:30
- Make sure headphones are charged
- Have outfit picked out
- Gym bag packed
- Morning
- Wake up at 5:30
- Shower & get ready
- Drink glass of warm water
- Pack bag with all smoothie tools (blender) and ingredients
- Pack lunch and snacks for entire day
- Fill up water bottle
- Make coffee
- Drink BCAAs
With all that being said, I am a true believer in listening to your body. Having unplanned off days is ok. We get sick. We have restless nights. Life happens. Don’t feel guilty for that. However, be sure that you don’t confuse listening to your body with making unnecessary excuses. If you want to better yourself, you have to be honest with yourself.
If you try any of these out, I would love to hear about it! Thanks for reading!
as someone who has lived with me, You know me. I’m also not an early rise and struggle with switching to the morning routine. After reading this at work, i feel motivated and wish I could go try all these things out right this minute!! i am inspired and i am going to try this.
like i said before, i’m so proud and loveeee that you’re doing this!!!
So happy to hear this Lex!!! I hope it works as well for you as it does for me. Keep me updated! Love you!! XOXO
Love this post!! I struggle with the idea of a morning Workout daily and i definitely never considered the IdeA of a shower to wake up. Keep posting and congrats on your new blog!
Thanks so Loren!! Means the world! 🙂