If you’re reading this, you’re probably where I was about a month ago – realizing that evening workouts or “I’ll fit it in where I can” workouts tend to turn into missed workouts. For me, knocking it out in the morning is essential! Not only does it help me get it in no matter what, it also improves my energy and mood for the rest of the day, revs up my metabolism, and helps me be more efficient overall.
It can be hard to make the transition to mornings, however. Afterall, we all love our sleep, and the older we get, the less we seem to enjoy. However, here are a few tips that will help you make the transition a lot easier.
- Set up the night before
Depending on the type of workout you’ll be doing, you may need very little equipment to get the job done. However, if you’re like me, you’re going to need to prepare your workout space ahead of time. Make sure your space is clean and your materials (like weights, mats, workout clothes, etc.) are set out and ready to go the night before. Nothing sucks the wind out of your will in the morning like realizing you just spend 15 minutes setting up, only to have another 30+ minutes of workout to do.
- Scout your workout
Know EXACTLY what you’re doing ahead of time! I follow a calendared workout, so I always know which work
out DVD I’ll be doing the next day. I always like to look at what I’ll need and how long it is the night before so I can prepare adequately. My day HAS to start by 8:30 AM at the latest, so knowing how long my workouts are ahead of time helps me plan what time I have to get up in order to get dressed, get the workout done, and shower/get dressed, all before that final time. The bottom line is, know what you’re going to be doing so it doesn’t come as
a shock the next morning.
- Set several alarms
I LOOOOOVE to sleep, so I’ve been known to hit the snooze button more than once. The thing is, if I set 2-3 alarms, all of them within a few minutes of each other, I get so sick of the noise that I finally get up. If you are a snoozer like me, then this is something you’ve GOT to do, at least for the first week of starting this change. It’s going to be tempting to go back to sleep, so you probably are going to need some extra motivation to get out of that comfy bed in the morning!
- Reward yourself with a great breakfast
Have a fabulous, healthy breakfast planned ahead of time that you can devour the second you finish your workout to reward yourself for a job well-done. This works for me every time! I get pretty dang excited about drinking my chocolate Shakeology, but my rule is that I can’t have it unless I do my workout first. Chocolate will always motivate me… always. Whatever your breakfast is, make sure it’s hearty and filling and low on the sugar! Nonetheless, find something divine that you drool over to help you see that silver lining before and during your workout!
- Keep a log of your successes
Remember when I mentioned that I follow a workout schedule each day? Well, I actually went and laminated my schedule at FedEx a while ago so that I could physically put a whopping “X” through the workout when I finished it. At the end of the week, seeing that I didn’t miss a single workout is incredibly satisfying (much more satisfying to me than just making a mental note of it). There’s something about writing things down and physically seeing signs of progress that motivate us to continue working hard.
So there you have it: 5 tips to making the morning workout transition a lot easier. Trust me – you’re going to love the change! It’s just the first few days that are rough. After that, the habit is formed, and you’ll wonder what ever possessed you to try working out at a different time!
*Want to try a calendared workout like I do every day? I recommend BeachBody on Demand. My workout, The Master’s Hammer and Chisel, is included in this giant library, and the calendar, eating plan, and bonus workouts are all included with it too. You can check it out here.
*The protein shake I drink each morning is called Shakeology, and it literally is the most brilliant, most to-die-for protein shake you’ll ever drink (trust me – I am a protein powder SNOB). Drinking it daily has seriously improved my ability to lose weight quickly and put on some amazing lean muscle that I’ve never had in the past. The best part? You can use an entire bag and send the empty bag back for a full refund if you aren’t in love with it after you try it! You can grab a bag of it here.
Stay awesome!
