Waking up for Early Morning Workouts

By Donna Kostiew

Want to start a fitness program but finding it difficult to come up with a time that works for you to do it during the day? Does it feel like the 24 hours we are given each day is never enough? For many, the best time to make it work is in the morning, but that usually means setting your alarm clock a lot earlier than you may be used to, and that can be daunting. It doesn’t have to be though, and with just a few tricks on how to make it easier, you will be up and going in no time.

Becoming a Pro with the Early Start

Let's take a look at some helpful suggestions on how to make your early morning routine a breeze.

Get out of bed – Yep, the first step is to actually get out of your bed. Ban the snooze button. If you have to, set your alarm clock across the room. Once you get out of bed, immediately turn on the lights, or if your loved one is still sleeping, head straight to the bathroom and turn the lights on. Just start moving and signal your body that it is time to wake up. The rest will fall into place after that.

15 minutes – If you aren’t used to waking up at that time, it is helpful to prepare the night before. A seamless and quick start is the goal for the morning … save your work and effort for the actual workout. So to get out of the door as painless as possible, have your clothes, water bottle, and small snack ready the night before. Ideally, it should only take you around 15 minutes to brush your teeth, get dressed, throw on your shoes, and get going.

About that snack – Eating a big breakfast before your workout isn’t a great idea, but you will feel better if you do eat something. Fuel your body with a nutritious snack like a protein bar or some peanut butter toast and some water. Save the oatmeal and coffee for later.

Ease into it - If working out in the morning is new to you, you will probably want to ease into it. Start setting the clock a little earlier for a week or so if waking up is the hardest thing for you. Then head to your workout a couple of days at first and build up from there. You don’t need to be a workout rockstar every day if there is a possibility of crashing and burning.

Grab a friend – The most effective thing that got me out of bed was knowing that my friend was going to be at my door at 5:45 in the morning to pick me up, and honestly, if she wasn’t on her way, the excuses to stay in my warm bed would start filling my head. So try to engage a friend to work out with you and hold each other accountable.

Early morning wake-ups can be challenging, but once you establish a routine, they may become the most rewarding hours of the day.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Denver, Colo.