“Getting up early to workout is easy,” said no one ever.
Well maybe the odd few, but for the most part, for most of us, it’s hard.
The getting out of bed part is hard, the motivating to get to the workout part is hard, the planning and coordination for everything else that happens afterwards is hard, and really, in many ways, it’s enough to make you say “it’s not worth it.”
But that’s the thing: it’s totally worth it.
So here’s how to make it happen:
Give Yourself Time
If you’re getting up early, your first thought may be what is the maximum amount of time I can stay in bed, and the latest I can get up, but trying to rush things and get them done at the last minute won’t help you out in your quest for success. It increases your chances of oversleeping, forgetting something, or ending up having to cut your workout short because you were running behind. Give yourself plenty of time before you need to be out the door to wake up, have a coffee or tea, get your body moving and be ready to go. You’ll be thankful for the time!
Skip the Snooze
Snooze it once and you’ll snooze it again. Snoozing is actually harder to break away from than it is to just get up when your alarm goes off in the first place – even though that seems hard at the time too. Start by giving yourself a challenge to skip snooze for a week, and then gradually increase your days. You can help yourself out by putting your alarm clock on the other side of the room so that you have to get up to turn it off.
Have a Pick-me-Up
Whether it is coffee, your favourite tea, an upbeat playlist, or a cold morning shower, have something that ignites your energy and gets things burning for you in the morning. Many people struggle simply with this initial energy burst, and once they have it, the rest comes easy!
Be Ready
Set yourself up for success by having everything ready the night before. Prepare your gym bag and everything you need for after your session. Have your workout clothes by your bed, or even sleep in them if it will help. Fill your water bottle, have your lunch ready to take to work, and your breakfast ready to start when you get home from the gym or your run. Anything you can do to prepare yourself and make it easier for your 5am wake up will be a welcome reprieve.
Just because you don’t currently workout in the morning, or never have, doesn’t mean you can’t. instead of saying, “I could never be an early morning workout person,” give it a try and see how it works out for you (no pun intended!). It will make you feel amazing to tackle the day ahead, and that alone may be enough to convince you that it is totally worth it to adopt it as a new habit and continue!
By: Laura Peill, RHN, BScH – Viand Nutrition
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