10 Steps to Get to the Gym in the Morning
If you are a serial offender when it comes to hitting the snooze button, getting yourself to the gym before work in the morning can seem pretty much impossible. However, there are many good reasons to exercise in the a.m. It will not only help you feel energized throughout the day, but will jumpstart your metabolism so you continue to burn more calories even after you’re showered and help regulate your appetite. Many also find that it’s easier to stick with a morning routine than an evening one, when fatigue, laundry, Facebook and other distractions may interfere. We know it’s hard, but here are 10 tips to get you on your way to a better fitness routine.
Mentally commit
Tell yourself that You. Are. Going. Return to this thought several times throughout the day before your workout so it really sinks in. If you keep a journal, write it down there, or just write yourself a post-it note with your intention and maybe an encouraging word or two to leave by your bedside. Alternately, tweet or Facebook something along the lines of “Early to bed, early to rise. Gym tmrw AM!!” Any or all of these things will help make your visit to the gym a mental reality, instead of something that might happen if you feel up to it, if you have time, etc.
Go to bed early
This tip is obvious, but also one of the big hurdles for night owls. If you’re going to have a good workout in the morning, you need to make sure to get a decent sleep. DVR your late night shows, power down and just get in bed.
Sleep in gym clothes
They’re pretty comfy anyway, right? This is just another way to save time in the morning and, if you’re dressed for it anyway, you might as well go!
Set your alarm to your gym music. Put it out of reach.
Never underestimate the power of a killer playlist. Whatever gets you pumped up at the gym will also get you pumped up to get out of bed and put you in an exercise frame of mind. Set your alarm to some high energy tunes and—more importantly—set it out of reach so you will be forced to get out of bed.
Create a seamless morning routine
This is really crucial. You want your morning to be as quick and painless as possible, which means you need to do some planning beforehand. Have your gym bag packed, lunch made and clothes for the day picked out. Calculate how much time you’ll need to get out the door, get your workout in and get to work on time, and stick to it. Ideally, you should trim down your morning routine so you can be on your way in 15 to 20 minutes.
Enforce a strict no-snooze policy
The weekends are made for snoozing, but during the week, just don’t do it. Use some of the will power you generated with Step 1 to get up and at ‘em!
Keep a glass of water by your bed
Having a big glass of water first thing will help wake up the body and keep you hydrated for your workout. Save coffee for later.
Keep your workout short
Your morning workout doesn’t have to be a 90-minute sweatfest, especially if you are just starting an a.m. routine. If you can commit to just 20 minutes and give it your all, consider that a victory and maybe start to intensify later.
Reward yourself with a tasty post-workout meal
You did it! Reward yourself for getting to the gym by refueling with something delicious afterwards. An egg and veggie breakfast wrap or a big bowl of oatmeal with fresh fruit are good options, but choose something you will look forward to. If you need to further motivate yourself with the promise of a spa service or new pair of shoes, so be it.
Make it a habit
This is the tricky part. Most of us can scrounge up the energy for a 7 a.m. date with the treadmill once, but making it a part of your weekly routine is often a different story. Building new habits is difficult, but the good news is that the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Set a goal that’s doable for you (eg. Going on back-to-back days, three times in a week) and just get through it. After a week or two, you’ll be through the hardest part and well on your way to being a morning gym person!
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