People love to hate on morning workouts. They say things like, "I could never do that," or "I don't have the time."
If you're like most people, you will be able to relate to this. Working out in the morning is one of the biggest challenges you face when it comes to getting in shape. It's tough to drag yourself out of bed early enough to fit in a workout before work and even tougher to find the motivation to stick to it. But don't worry – with a little bit of planning and preparation, you can make morning workouts a regular part of your routine.
There are many benefits of working out in the morning, including improved energy level and better mood. However, one of the best reasons to get up and move early is that it sets the tone for the day. If you start your day with a workout, you're more likely to make healthy choices throughout the rest of the day. In this video, Dr. Avital Harari explains the benefits of working out in the morning.
So, if you're looking for a reason to get motivated, here are five great reasons to work out in the morning:
- You'll have more energy throughout the day.
- You'll be way less likely to make unhealthy choices later in the day.
- You’ll be done with your workout as you start your day so you won't have to worry about it later.
- You'll start your day feeling good about yourself.
- You'll improve your sleep quality at night.
So, here are the top 10 tips that can help you improve your morning workout:
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1. Get to Bed on Time
We've all been there. You sleep in, rush to get ready for your morning workout, and it's a total disaster. You're tired, everything hurts, and you can't focus on anything. But if you go to bed on time, you can avoid this situation!
It's easy to think, "I'll just get a few more minutes of sleep," and then end up hitting the snooze button for the tenth time. By pushing your bedtime back, you're actually making it harder for yourself to get up and stay energized for your workout.
So, how can you make sure that you're getting enough sleep? To start, make a plan to go to bed at the same time every night, even on weekends. And try not to use your gadgets in bed - the blue light from screens can keep you awake for longer.
Go to bed 30-45 minutes earlier to keep yourself to the normal schedule and get adequate rest. A sleep specialist W. Christopher Winter, M.D, a neurologist and author of The Sleep Solution, explains that setting a consistent wake-up time can be super helpful for your morning workout
2. Plan the Next Day
So, you had a great workout this morning. You woke up early, got to the gym, and crushed your routine. Feeling good about yourself, you head home with the intention of eating healthy and getting lots of rest so you can do it all again tomorrow. Then you get busy, and before you know it, it's 9 pm, and you've ordered pizza for dinner. Oops! How can you make sure this doesn't happen again? By planning your next day right after your current one ends.
Create a checklist of the things you need to do the next day. Commit a few minutes, schedule your tasks down to the hour, and ensure to do all of them productively. Keep yourself stuck to the agenda. This will prevent you from distracting yourself and ending up doing something unhealthy.
3. Eat Healthy
Eating a quality meal will actually improve your workout rather than hinder it. You see, when you're well-fueled, your body has the energy it needs to perform at its best. So don't skip breakfast– or lunch – before hitting the gym.
Instead, opt for something that will give you sustained energy throughout your workout, like a protein-rich smoothie or a hearty bowl of oatmeal. And whatever you do, don't overdo it on the carbs. A big ol' plate of pasta is definitely not going to help.
Combine your meals with a reliable supplement to give you the required energy boost. Pre-workout supplement by DMoose is the stimulant you need to get your muscle moving.
So, if you don't want to feel like a slug while you're at the gym, you need to make sure your stomach is happy. So, before you head out the door, make sure to fuel up with a quality meal!
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4. Set Goals and Keep Referring Back
Achieving fitness goals can be tough, especially if you don't have a plan. That's why starting your day with a morning workout is so important - it sets the tone for the entire day! First, set realistic goals that you can actually achieve. It's important to push yourself, but don't strive for something that's impossible.
Secondly, refer back to your goals often to keep yourself motivated. Finally, celebrate every achievement - no matter how small! Remember, progress rather than perfection is what counts in the long run. So, get started and good luck!
5. Keep Your Home Tidy and Organized
It's no secret that a tidy and organized home can help you stay focused and on track. But did you know that it can also improve your morning workout? Studies show that when your surroundings are chaotic, it's tough to find the energy to work out.
Researchers found that participants who exercised in a clean environment felt more energetic and accomplished than those who worked out in a cluttered room. So, if you're looking to get motivated for your next workout, start by cleaning up your home!
6. Get Everything Ready the Night Before
I know the feeling. You're all pumped to go to the gym in the morning, but when you try to get out of bed, you realize that your muscles have atrophied overnight. It's tough enough to get motivated for a morning workout while also having to spend an hour preparing for it.
To help make your morning workouts a little bit easier, try getting everything ready the night before. This will allow you just to wake up and go without worrying about anything else.
So, the next time you're planning on working out in the morning, try these tips to make things a tad bit easier on yourself:
- Lay out your clothes and sneakers so you don't have to think about it in the morning.
- Set your alarm clock earlier than usual, so you have plenty of time to get ready.
- Pack your gym bag with everything you need.
These mini-preparation steps will play a huge role in motivating you to get up and go to the gym in the morning since there won't be any excuse left for missing out on a workout.
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7. Write It Down
You know the saying, if you don't plan, you're planning to fail? Well, that's especially true when it comes to fitness. If you want to make sure your morning workout actually happens, write down your planned routine and post it somewhere visible.
That way, when 5:00 am rolls around, and you're still in bed, you can guilt yourself into getting up because if you don't, you won't be able to fit your workout in later. And who knows, maybe after a few weeks of sticking to your workout schedule, you may just find yourself getting up earlier without even thinking about it!
8. Say No to the Snooze Button
I'm sorry to break it to you, but hitting the snooze button is killing your workout. Every time you press that button, you're essentially adding an extra nine minutes of sleep (not counting the five or so minutes it takes for you to actually get out of bed). And let's be honest - most of us are guilty of doing just that. Maybe even today. We'll tell ourselves we'll only hit the snooze once, but before we know it, we've pressed it six times, and now we're running late.
So how do you resist the siren call of your bed and make it to the gym on time? One way to do that is to set your alarm for earlier than you actually need to wake up. This will give you some extra time to ease into your day instead of jumping out of bed and running out the door. You can put your alarm at a distant place or shift to an old-fashioned alarm clock to force yourself to your feet.
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9. Find Accountable Partners
Morning workouts are always more enjoyable when you have someone to hold you accountable. When you have someone else counting on you to show up and work hard, it makes it a lot harder to hit the snooze button three times in a row.
So, if you're struggling with getting up and moving in the morning, find some accountable partners and get your butt in gear!
10. Try a Different Workout
Running on a treadmill or lifting weights can get quite monotonous, sucking out all the fun from your workout. This can get boring, especially because you're working out in the morning, which is already pesky.
In that case, try making your morning workouts more exciting. There are so many fun and challenging exercises you can do outside, like hiking, surfing or rock climbing. Try dancing, aerobics, swimming, or whichever form of physical activity that excites you. You can even try a resistance band workout to give your routine a twist. Resistance bands by DMoose would be an exceptional choice in this matter. Trust me; it will just make getting up early worth it!
Wrap Up
There you have it - 10 tips to help you make your morning workouts a reality. Just remember, the most important thing is to find what works for you and stick to it. There's no one-size-fits-all solution here, so don't be afraid to experiment until you find something that works. With a little bit of trial and error, you'll be up and at them in no time!
Reading List
Article Sources
- Deeth, Kevin and CPT. "5 Tips For Great Early Morning Workouts." BuiltLean, 28 Aug. 2012, https://www.builtlean.com/early-morning-workouts/.
- McMains, S., and S. Kastner. "Interactions of Top-Down and Bottom-Up Mechanisms in Human Visual Cortex." Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 31, no. 2, Jan. 2011, pp. 587–97. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3766-10.2011.
- Saxbe, Darby E., and Rena Repetti. "No Place Like Home: Home Tours Correlate With Daily Patterns of Mood and Cortisol." Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, vol. 36, no. 1, Jan. 2010, pp. 71–81. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167209352864.
