How to Make Fitness a Reality Every Morning
By Sandy Schroeder
If you would love to run every morning, or bike or hike on weekend mornings with your family, it may be time to make that vision a reality with some specifics.
Here are some tips from the Washington Post on ways to exercise in the morning.
Make Sleep Work for You
- Change your sleep schedule to get up early rolling it back with 30-minute increments to a new time
- Keep weekend sleep cycles close to weekday ones
- Make sleep easier with no caffeine, electronics or alcohol near bedtime
Make Your Early Workout Fun
Pick the exercises that you please you. If you thrive on running, start with that. If a brisk walk or jogging with a workout buddy is more fun, do that. Maybe an early morning spin class or yoga session at the gym might be your choice. Just pick something that makes you happy to make sure you are there.
Make Everything Super Easy
Plan ahead to make the morning simple. Have your clothes, water, keys and sneakers all in place. Then enjoy that feeling of pride that you are actually making morning workouts happen.
Line Up Outside Boosts and Support
Find a workout buddy that you can count on, or pick a workout class that fits perfectly. Then make sure your favorite coffee is ready to go in the morning. Stationing all of your gear by the front door helps too. Always have a backup plan in place. When it’s pouring or you had to work really late the night before, have an at-home routine ready to go. It may not be perfect, but you will have kept the morning habit going.
Make the Switch Gradually
If morning workouts are a drastic change for you, keep your old evening workout in place and try for two or three morning routines. Give yourself credit for making one or two of them, and keep trying until the morning slot feels OK. Then switch all of your workouts over to the new morning time.
Make the Morning Workout a Natural
When the morning workout feels as natural as brushing your teeth, you will know you have made it. Picking just the right morning time, making it super easy and enjoying every minute of it may not happen immediately, but keep trying. When you get there you will know it.
Reward Yourself
As your morning workouts settle in, reinforce them with monthly celebrations, shopping, lunch, coffee with friends, or a weekend supper can be a great time to toast your accomplishment. Enjoy the moment.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Phoenix, Ariz.