One of the great things about morning workouts is that you get them done and dusted before the day gets on top of you. But if you’re not in the habit of a.m. exercise it can be difficult to get going. Here are some tips and tricks from the pros to get you out of bed, even if you’re not a morning person…
1. Do some p.m. prep
Get your clothes ready and bag packed the night before, suggests personal trainer and callisthenics head coach Dave Mace.
“When you are starting a new routine, you need to make the process as seamless as possible, so you are more likely to stick with it,” he says.
2. Skip the night-time booze
“Alcohol slows down energy production and increases oxidative stress which further impairs energy production,” says nutritional therapist Claire Murray.
If you really want to smash your a.m. exercise, she says: “Limit or avoid alcohol consumption [the night before your morning workout] as this can stop you reaching a deep, restful sleep which will further reduce your motivation to exercise.”
3. Get good sleep
Waking up refreshed and well-rested “will make your workout so much more enjoyable”, says certified personal trainer, health coach and bridal fitness expert Stephanie Thomas.
Adds personal trainer and weight loss coach Jeff Laurence: “Get familiar with your sleep cycle and learn how much your body needs to properly rest and recover – this will be different for everybody.”
4. Make a date
“Whether [it’s] with a personal trainer, a running club, booking a spot in a group class, or even just meeting a friend in a park, having an appointment where other people are expecting you to show [up] applies external pressure to stop you pressing snooze,” says Laurence.
5. Don’t scroll
If you check your phone first thing in the morning, you probably know how easily the seemingly innocent device can rob you of time (including workout time).
“Put it down, and step away,” says Thomas. “The world can wait for a moment.”
6. Rise and smile
Thomas recommends using positive thinking to “set yourself up for a good day”.
“Practices such as meditation and positive affirmations may sound silly at first but can improve your mood and make you more focused for your workout ahead,” she explains.
7. Rehydrate
Once you’re up, drink some water to replace fluids lost overnight, says Mace. “This will help you think more clearly and will set your body up for a good workout.”
8. Warm up
“Your body has been resting for (hopefully) eight hours, so you need a warm-up to get the blood flowing, warm…the joints and get you ready for your workout,” says Mace.
Warming up the body, he adds, can help prevent injury.
Now all that’s left to do is enjoy getting your heart rate up and muscles working!
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