I will preface this post with a short statement: I’m not the biggest fan of working out in the wee hours of the morning. Occasionally I find myself in a time predicament and if I don’t peel myself out of bed to squeeze a workout in, it’s just not going to happen. There are a few things that I do in order to make my morning routine as seamless as possible when this happens. Here are my 5 tips to help you keep your workout promises:
1. Prepare the night before. Lay out your gym clothes and if you will be getting ready for work outside of your home, pack the necessities (fresh outfit, shower supplies, etc). Prep as much of your breakfast as you can, fill your water bottle and put it in the refrigerator and assemble your towel, ear buds and anything else you might need. The less you have to do in the morning, the better.
2. Find an accountability partner. Whether it be a running group, a gal pal you plan to meet up with for circuit training or a group class at your gym. If someone is expecting you to be there, it’s harder to back out. The Bar Method studio I go to will charge you for not showing up or cancelling a class outside of the designated window. It really ups the ante and provides the motivation I need to get up and get to it. I learned this the hard way.
3. Reward yourself. We’re all guilty of waking up and heading straight for our favorite social media channel. Instagram, anyone? Make it a rule that you aren’t allowed to check social media until your workout is complete. This will also decrease the chance of you being late for your workout!
4. Set an extra alarm. I’m usually a one alarm gal. Meaning I set two, but the second once is irrelevant because I get up with the first one. Any normal sleep schedule goes out the window when your alarm is blaring an hour earlier than usual. It will take time for your body to get used to your new routine. Setting an extra alarm gives you a cushion, just in case you come down with the case of the snoozes.
5. Think positive thoughts. I like to focus on the happy hour, movie date or other fun obligation I will be able to enjoy knowing that my workout is complete.So there you have it! The recipe for a sweaty, successful morning. Do you have any tips to make morning workouts run more smoothly?
I needed this post more than you know today! I’m embarking on a new fitness project…stay tuned for details…but it’s been BRUTAL getting up. Katharine http://www.paytington.com
Great ideas! I am definitely not a morning person. I wish I could get my workouts out of the way in the morning, but with the cold weather, my bed is even more enticing:) Hope you’re having a great day!!
Ugghhhhh I WANT to be a morning workout person. I go to yoga most evenings, but I need to be running too, so I want to run in the mornings. But it is almost impossible for me to get up. I am the queen of the snoozing button. I tried to get my hubs to be my workout buddy, but I always convince him to stay in bed. Can you come get me up every morning? Oh and then run with me?
Those are all great tips. I find that number one helps me the most! I feel less rushed in the morning when I do that and like I actually have plenty of time to workout before work!
Urrgh, i find it SO HARD to get out of bed! But I hate exercising at night as well 🙁 I need a trainer to yell at me to get out of bed and get to the gym!
I really, really wish I were an a.m. workout person- it would free up my evenings something serious. Alas, I am a blasted night owl. I don’t think I’m ever really fully-functioning until like 10 a.m. most days. 🙂
I cannot do morning work outs! It takes me way too long to wake up haha! These are great tips though even for getting to the gym in General which I have been slacking with!
hahaa seriously, why is waking up to workout so hard!! #snoozeaddict Getting to the gym is bad enough! I wrote a few of my own tips here, but none of them even address the AM, I’ll have to try a few of these! http://www.alwayscraving.com/2014/10/get-gym-regularly/
You covered all my top tips, Jessica! Love these. And if you love your morning coffee as much as I do, go ahead and give yourself an EXTRA 20 minutes to linger before you go. Just don’t linger too long!
I would also add, make it a habit! The more it feels a habit, the easier it is to do. I wrote a post on morning workouts awhile back. I hope these tips help you! http://www.livehalffullblog.com/2013/01/07/10-tips-for-working-out-in-the-morning-and-not-hating-it/
I needed this post more than you know today! I’m embarking on a new fitness project…stay tuned for details…but it’s been BRUTAL getting up.
Katharine
http://www.paytington.com
Haha, I love #5 — this positive thoughts. If I was an early morning workout gal I would need a LOT of positive thoughts to get me going!
These are all great ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Today is day 3 that I overslept… so this is exactly what I needed!!
These are really helpful tips!! I desperately need to start working out in the mornings before work. Tomorrow!!
Annie
Great ideas! I am definitely not a morning person. I wish I could get my workouts out of the way in the morning, but with the cold weather, my bed is even more enticing:) Hope you’re having a great day!!
Definitely guilty of letting Instagram sidetrack me from my morning workouts. These are all great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Ugghhhhh I WANT to be a morning workout person. I go to yoga most evenings, but I need to be running too, so I want to run in the mornings. But it is almost impossible for me to get up. I am the queen of the snoozing button. I tried to get my hubs to be my workout buddy, but I always convince him to stay in bed. Can you come get me up every morning? Oh and then run with me?
Nikki
thefashionablewife.com
Those are all great tips. I find that number one helps me the most! I feel less rushed in the morning when I do that and like I actually have plenty of time to workout before work!
Urrgh, i find it SO HARD to get out of bed! But I hate exercising at night as well 🙁 I need a trainer to yell at me to get out of bed and get to the gym!
So….I need to get a morning work out – that’s step #1 for me 🙂 But once I get one, I’m taking ALL your advice! xx
Working out in the morning is so hard since I start work at 7 but I used to do it back in the days and it gave me so much energy.
I really, really wish I were an a.m. workout person- it would free up my evenings something serious. Alas, I am a blasted night owl. I don’t think I’m ever really fully-functioning until like 10 a.m. most days. 🙂
-Ashley
http://lestylorouge.com
These are all great tips. I have been struggling with getting up in the morning.
I cannot do morning work outs! It takes me way too long to wake up haha! These are great tips though even for getting to the gym in General which I have been slacking with!
<3 Shannon
Upbeatsoles.blogspot.com
I love these tips! Getting up to work out in the morning is so hard!
xo,
Angela
These are great tips! It’s hard to be motivated in the morning. Thanks for sharing these!
xx Jana
http://www.janastyleblog.com
I like number 3!!!
hahaa seriously, why is waking up to workout so hard!! #snoozeaddict Getting to the gym is bad enough! I wrote a few of my own tips here, but none of them even address the AM, I’ll have to try a few of these! http://www.alwayscraving.com/2014/10/get-gym-regularly/
You covered all my top tips, Jessica! Love these. And if you love your morning coffee as much as I do, go ahead and give yourself an EXTRA 20 minutes to linger before you go. Just don’t linger too long!