I’m naturally a morning person, but becoming a morning exerciser was no easy task! The first few mornings of waking up early were really hard, but the more I forced myself to do it, the easier it became. Even now it’s not always that pleasant—especially when it’s cold and dark outside in the winter—but it’s a great way to start the day and now it’s part of my morning routine. Here’s what helps me break a sweat before sunrise.
Mentally prepare. When I am getting ready for bed the night before, I tell myself that skipping the gym is not an option. I remind myself that hitting snooze on my alarm clock cuts into valuable exercise time, which pushes me to get out of bed the instant it goes off. Refuse to snooze!!
Start on Monday. For me, weekends are all about sleeping in, so I start Monday morning with a bright and early workout. A quality sweat session starts my week off on the right foot and gives me momentum for the rest of my morning workouts.
Buy a lamp. My bedside lamp is my go-to tool for getting out of bed. As soon as I shut off my alarm clock, I immediately turn on my bedside lamp, which is a short distance from my pillow. Even just a little light gets me moving.
Bribe yourself out of bed. On the mornings that I really struggle to get out of bed, I bribe myself with thoughts of my favorite things. For instance, a pre-workout snack, a cup of coffee, reading emails, watching TV, or doing a few minutes of gentle yoga get me ready for a workout.
Focus on how it feels. When I am lying in bed debating whether to get up or not, I remind myself how accomplished I feel after a workout. I also remind myself how it feels when I skip a workout. I’m not sure which thought ultimately gets me out of bed, but I never regret a workout!
Prepare everything. I lay out everything I will need for the next morning, including clothing, sneakers, iPod, Garmin, magazines, pre-workout snack, car keys, gym membership ID, etc. Having everything ready to go requires a lot less thought in the morning, so it’s easy for me to just do it!
Map it out. The night before a workout, I take a few minutes to map out my workout. I try to be as specific as possible. For instance: 20-minute run on treadmill, 15 minutes on elliptical, 20 minutes strength training (free weights, upper body).
Just get out of bed. Some mornings, I really just don’t have the motivation to exercise. On these mornings, I force myself out of bed and wake myself up with some light activity, like checking my email, watching the news, stretching, or eating a snack. Even just 15 minutes of milling around my apartment will get me ready for a workout.
Do something you like! Exercise that is not enjoyable will not get you out of bed. The gym isn’t for everyone, so if you like hiking or biking or swimming (you get the idea), make it part of your morning plan.
Allow for mistakes. When I miss a workout, I don’t get down on myself. The next day, I just make sure that I don’t skip my workout.
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Good tips. I live for my early morning workout – they are the best things ever! I start the day feeling refreshed and energised, and know that the evening can then be spent relaxing. It’s the best
These are such great tips for getting out of bed early to workout. I especially like the one about laying everything out that you’ll need. I do that the night before any kind of workout and it makes JUST DOING IT so much easier. Thanks for sharing!
Good tips. I used to hate morning workouts but now I gravitate towards them – it’s just so nice to have my afternoons/evenings free for other things except the gym!
As difficult as it is to get out of bed early and do a workout, like you said, I never regret it once I’ve finished!!
Great tips! One of mine is to remind myself how great it will feel the next day (or thereafter) when its a *scheduled* rest day to stay in bed and how great I’ll feel having earned the rest! (aka get up NOW!)
This is a great post…I’m a late afternoon worker outter, but I’ve wanted to switch to the mornings. These tips should help!
I used to be able to do it, but once you start cancelling it, it grows on you ..
Must get back to it!
These are great tips! I find that once the routine is set into place, it becomes so much easier. And usually I just have to convince myself that it’s mind over matter. If I write the workout in my calendar, then I consider it a set schedule. No if’s, and’s or but’s.
I think you read my mind! I turned my alarm off EVERY morning this week, opting for sleep over exercise. I had to force myself to the gym after work and I kept thinking how much I like morning workouts better. I’ll start again Monday! I think the most important part is planning everything the night before and just getting up once the alarm goes off. Thanks for the tips!
Great tips – I like to lay out my clothes, etc right next to the bed. That way, if I’m too cold to get out of bed I can change under the covers!
Morning workouts set me up for a great day. I have to make them a habit though, which usually only happens when my days are super busy. Otherwise I delay them ’til the afternoon. I think overall I have more energy later in the day so it just depends. Great tips though!
I always work out first thing in the morning before anyone else gets out of bed! Otherwise too many other factors will keep me from doing it! Bedsides, it starts my day off with a bang!
this is a great post…i really need to force myself to get my tail out of bed in the mornings for workouts! I definitely think it would get easier, i just need to GO FOR IT!
Great tips! Thank you
it’s funny you post this today, because i attempted yoga this morning and discovered that i need cardio if i’m doing anything first thing in the morning. If i do yoga or weights, i’ll just want to quit and crawl back to bed. Cardio wakes me up!
I especially like the tip on reminding yourself how good it feels afterwards. That even got me going this morning.
I have tried a few times to do this and while I LOVE getting my workout done early in the morning and having time for other things while my twins nap, I get so tired during the day and it gets worse by week’s end. I’ve read that some people just aren’t morning workout people but wonder if it can be changed? I know when I’ve tried, I am a lot more ‘weak’ in the morning and don’t enjoy my workouts as much and it’s a lot more challenging for me to do. Maybe I just need to do it longer and let myself get used to it more?
I love getting up early as well….to work out, then it’s done for the day. Although I have been awake since 2 a.m. today, got up at 5 to go to the gym…..I’m sure I’ll crash pretty soon.
I would love to be able to motivate myself to do a morning workout but during the week the last thing I want to do is get out of bed early and start exercising. Which is strange because on the weekend I actually prefer to exercise first thing.
Have you considered an alarm clock that gently lights up the room to replicate sunrise? I have one and it is a much gentler way of waking up and means the light is already on when you open your eyes, so you wouldn’t have to physically reach for your lamp. Just a thought – I have a Lumie and I love it!
What works for me is sitting my alarm clock a few feet away from my bed, that way I actually have to get out of bed to turn it off. Once I’m standing up it’s much easier to stay that way!
these are great! i’m typically a morning person (i hate to miss out on things!) but these will be good for those days when i’m just in a funk! thanks! =0)
Great tips! I also plan to have a really yummy recovery meal afterwards.
I am a morning person and get up at 4:30 everyday to work out. It is hard but it makes me feel so good. I always have my clothes out before and make sure to be in bed on time!
Love these tips! I used to be really good about it, but now I can’t get up to save my life. I need to get back into it.
This summer I’ve been having t opush my workouts to after lunch since I’ve had 7:30 classes all semester. But I can’t wait to get back into them!! They’re my favorite
I’ve always been a morning workout kind of girl. There’s something about moving your body in the morning that sets the whole day off right. One of my favorite things right now (because it’s so hot in Chicago!) is to go for a really tough run and then come back to a cool/cold shower. It wakes me up like nothing else!
Tina, I actually LOVE that you are reposting some of your old posts! It’s so awesome to re-read your stories and tips – they’re very motivating!
great post!
What time do you wake up to start your morning workout? If I workout in the morning I have to wake up at 4:40… get to the gym by 5:00… work out for 45 min to an hour… that leaves me about 15-20 minutes to get ready. Which is plenty of time.
4:40 is SO EARLY!!! I hate it! I feel all stressed when I go to bed!
I always feel better when I do though.
So, what time do you wake up and start on this… If I could wake up just an hour later it would do my some good.
Great post! I have to say I too used to be an early morning riser for the gym, but since my recent relocation to Chicago, I find it easier to go after work. I wish I could get back in the swing of it, but it is hard once you stop.
love this!!!
I am so not a morning person, but I do appreciate early morning productivity in the rare event it happens by my doing. Unfortunately, I’m too much of a night owl for it to work out in the long run.
Something you mentioned I really liked was the idea of turning on a light to wake you up. The human body naturally gets aroused by light. It makes so much sense!
~Amanda
great tips! I especially like the lamp one – when I turn on my desk light it forces me to eventually get up since it’s too bright
Fantastic tips! I’m not a morning workout person at all, but I NEED to be. I’m trying them all – first thing Monday morning.
Maria
Great Tips. I struggle getting up. In the evening I run out of steam. I love the lamp idea.
You really don’t ever regret a workout.
And I could never be a night exerciser because I hate showering before bed, but can’t sleep sweaty. Mornings are the only way to go for me
Great tips! I always have to ask myself that: how will I feel later today if I DON’T work out? Usually it’s regret, which isn’t fun :/
Thanks for sharing!
Love morning workouts. I feel ready to go, no time commitments in my way, and not weighed down by half a days food in my belly.
It leaves you satisfied, happy, and ready for a healthy day.
I would love to have enough time to work out in the mornings, but I have to be at work at 7 am so I really don’t think I could get up early enough to work out and make it through the whole day.
Is Mal an early riser too? I’m curious, because I am NOT an early riser, and the morning could turn violent if a light is turned on and wakes me up before I’m ready.
I personally prefer late afternoon or evening workouts because I enjoy my sleep so much. I find that exercise, shower, and some blog reading wind down my day well.
those are all good ideas. The winter is the worst when I am warm in bed and it’s freezing!
These are GREAT tips, and I completely agree. BUT, there are those mornings when you just need to sleep in and the sleep does you more good than the workout, mostly because if you are that tired, you’re only going to half-ass the workout. I know, because this morning was one of those mornings!
Great tips! I’ve always been partial to the 5-minute rule: Commit yourself to just 5 minutes of exercise, and if you still don’t like it, you can stop. Of course, once you actually get going, you don’t want to stop at just 5 minutes… most of the time!
These tips are helpful…I’m on my way to becoming a morning person, and I’m finding that I truly enjoy working out in the morning. The rest of my day is colored in much rosier tones. The only barrier is a wee insomnia issue, but otherwise, I’m loving daybreak these days!
What perfect timing for this post! I’m currently stationed in Afghanistan and struggling fitting in my workouts because I am working so much. Decided that I am going to start working out before work now and it is such a struggle. I’m going to try to incorporate a few of your tips and hopefully it will help! I always feel so much better after a work out, but since I have been averaging 15 hour work days out here, it is hard to fit them in. Obviously, some of your tips won’t work for me out here, but I will for sure try the light by the bed one. Never thought of that and I bet that helps a lot! Thanks again!
These are great tips. For the few months I had to work out in the morning the light was key. I’m not a morning person but I know one day I’ll have to workout early to get it in. I’ve bookmarked this to help when that day comes.
Excellent tips, Tina! I currently don’t have to rely on squeezing in my workouts in the morning, but know that my currently flexible schedule is subject to change soon. I think the initial act of getting out of bed makes all the difference in the world in terms of summoning workout motivation.
Great tips! While I’ve been working out in the mornings for awhile….I’ve been a total slacker this week! I like the lamp idea specially!
Great tips! I always have my clothes laid out before I go to bed.
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