Rise & Shine! It’s exercise time! Exercising in the morning can give your body some fabulous benefits. Morning exercise jump starts your metabolism and keeps you burning calories all day long. Morning exercise also helps you feel more alert and boosts productivity. Plus, by knocking out your workout first thing, you don’t need to worry about finding the time to squeeze it in later, especially when the unexpected pops up during the day.
That’s all fantastic news, but sometimes getting up and at ‘em is easier said than done. If that’s the case for you, here’s five tricks to help you get up and moving for morning exercise.
1 . Set multiple alarm clocks…away from your bed.
It’s mighty easy to slap the snooze button when the alarm goes off – if you only have one alarm that’s right next to the bed, that is. You’re right, having to hear the sound of one alarm clock is annoying, having to listen to several is downright mad! But isn’t that kind of the point? To wake you up? Move it AWAY from my bed, you ask?! You got it. The sole purpose of the alarm clock is to wake you up. Forcing yourself to physically get out of bed in order to shut that wretched sound off is one quick way to get you up and moving!
2 . Use a wake-up light.
Sound sleepers might not care if three or four alarm clocks are buzzing and dinging – they’ll tune out the noise, no problem. What about a bright light shining in your face or lighting up your entire bedroom? It won’t matter how many times you hit snooze or how long you ignore the alarm clocks, the bright light should be able to distract you enough to want to get up. Even if you don’t want to get up, you’ll have to crawl out of bed to dim the light. At that point, you might as well just start your day!
3 . Have breakfast waiting.
Breakfast is a standard part of most morning routines. If you have breakfast ready and waiting for you before your morning exercise, it can’t become an excuse to skip out on that workout. There are lots of great “overnight” breakfasts you can prep the night before so they will be ready to go as soon as you are, like this delicious Overnight Slow Cooker Steel-Cut Oatmeal. Depending on where you live, sometimes you can sweet talk your favorite smoothie bar into having yours ready for you every morning so you can just swing by, grab it, and go.
4 . Keep your favorite mints on your nightstand.
That sounds a tad unusual, doesn’t it? Well, here’s the thing: the effervescent effect of peppermint does an awesome job of helping you wake up. Peppermint is known for invigorating the senses and promoting mental clarity, which means it’ll clear up that early morning fog that sometimes hits before we’ve fueled up on enough coffee. Not a fan of the peppermint flavor? Keep some peppermint oil or a peppermint scented candle on your nightstand and take a gentle whiff to clear your mind and get ready for the day.
5 . Obligate yourself.
Sign yourself up for morning exercise classes. Signing up for a class and neglecting to show is a major let-down for everyone involved. The instructor/trainer and other class participants are counting on everyone attending. If you took the initiative to sign yourself up, you’re letting yourself down by skipping out. Making that formal commitment – for the morning – will motivate you enough to get up and get moving so that you keep yourself accountable and don’t disappoint.
Sign yourself up for morning exercise classes. Signing up for a class and neglecting to show is a major let-down for everyone involved. The instructor/trainer and other class participants are counting on everyone attending. If you took the initiative to sign yourself up, you’re letting yourself down by skipping out. Making that formal commitment – for the morning – will motivate you enough to get up and get moving so that you keep yourself accountable and don’t disappoint.
Still too sleepy after trying all of that? Give it some time. Choosing to be snuggled up in a cozy, comfortable bed versus hopping out of bed to hit the gym is a tough choice to make, at first. Getting into a new routine can take time, but it will be worth it in the long run. Keep at it and after a couple of weeks your body will adjust and, who knows, maybe you can switch from five alarm clocks to just one or two.
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