Working out in the morning sounds great to many people – at least until their alarm goes off.
However, if you can make yourself do it, you may find you have more energy & motivation than at the end of the day after work. Here are some tips & trips to help you start working out first thing in the morning.
1. Set Your Clothes & Gym Bag Out Ahead of Time
Let’s face it, getting to the gym first thing in the morning can feel like the last thing you want to do. So make it easier on yourself by cutting back on downtime, like finding an outfit and packing your bag.
Decide what you’re going to wear the night before. Then, have everything packed, ready to go, and set by the door, so you just need to grab it and leave. Some people even swear by wearing gym clothes to bed, so they don’t have to change.
2. Establish a Proper Sleep Routine
If you feel lethargic in the mornings, it could be because you haven’t had your coffee yet, but it could also be because you aren’t prioritizing sleep. Invest in good sleep hygiene: create the optimal environment to get your necessary eight hours. This is highly individualized according to everyone’s preferences, but consider setting your room to a cooler temperature.
Other factors include turning off your electronics a few hours before bed, avoiding eating a heavy meal right before sleep, and avoiding caffeine in the afternoon.
3. Only Do Workouts You Love
Working out has grown a reputation for being tedious and boring, but that doesn’t need to be the case. So many people struggle to stick with their workout routine because they hate it. Don’t do just anything or what your friend is doing. Instead, think about what activity you love to do and prioritize that.
This could be dancing, kickboxing, running on the treadmill, weightlifting, or taking a spin class. If you love it, you won’t need to convince yourself to go work out — it’ll be second nature.
4. Sign Up for Classes Ahead of Time
Signing up for fitness classes can hold you accountable to show up and work out no matter what stage of your fitness journey you’re in. If you’ve already found something you love, check for classes in your area, but if you still need to learn what you like, trying out various classes is a great way to experiment. You’ll ensure you won’t sleep in by pre-paying for these classes that meet on specific times and days.
5. Schedule Workouts In Your Calendar
For the love of God, take advantage of your calendar. Whether you use a physical or digital one, it doesn’t matter but schedule your workouts just as you would important events and appointments. I want you to treat your scheduled workout as an appointment with yourself.
You wouldn’t bail on an obligation with someone else, so why wouldn’t you follow through on commitments with yourself? You’ll take it more seriously by writing it down like a scheduled event.
6. Create the Perfect Playlist
By listening to upbeat, hype music, you can get excited to go to the gym and stick it out during your workout. Countless times, I intentionally blasted aggressive music when lifting weights or running because it made me feel like I was doing something important.
Create a playlist of your favorite hype songs ahead of time so you don’t need to waste time looking for them during your workout. If you prefer to listen to music that isn’t upbeat, that might still make your workout more enjoyable. You can also listen to a long podcast that you find interesting.
7. Workout With a Friend
If you’re a social person, don’t go it alone. Ask a friend to join you in a fitness class or to go to the gym together. You can hold each other accountable, motivate each other, spot each other when needed, and offer support.
You’ll be less likely to bail on the gym because you’ll be letting someone else down. If you don’t have any friends that want to work out with you, try making a buddy at the gym. The culture in most gyms is amiable.
8. Don’t Go Overboard Too Soon
If you’re starting to exercise and your motivation is high, that’s great, but don’t overdo it immediately. The key to long-term success is consistency, not wavering motivation. If you push yourself hard straight away, you might demand too much of yourself and get discouraged or burned out. Instead, try building up your tolerance, slowly increasing the number of sets you do or how long your workouts are.
9. Make Small Commitments
If you wake up one day and struggle to go to the gym, try to make smaller goals. Instead of thinking about getting through an entire one-hour workout, only demand 10 minutes.
I used to use this trick all the time: when I didn’t want to go, all I demanded of myself was to drive to the gym. Once I was there, I was off to the races. Once you start, you’ll have the momentum to keep going and are less likely to bail.
10. Workout Close to Home
A significant reason I could be so consistent with going to the gym was that it was practically just down the road. Even if it was rough weather outside or I didn’t have much time, going to a nearby gym made things much more manageable.
The further away your gym is, the more excuses you’ll come up with not to go. Whether it’s traffic, the long drive, or because you’ll run late for work, do yourself a favor and work out as close to home as possible.