Simple Tricks to Make Morning Exercise Easier
Some say they like to exercise in the morning to get it out of the way, but even those who love afternoon trips to the gym can reap major benefits by pushing their workouts ahead a few hours. The early risers enjoy a revved up metabolism, mental sharpness and a feeling of accomplishment—all of which can last for the rest of the day.
If you’re ready to switch your nightly workouts to morning sweat sessions, then take a look at some of these tricks to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Lay Out Your Clothes the Night Before
Stating your intention is the first step to following through on a plan. When you lay out your clothes the night before, of course you are relieving yourself of morning outfit decisions, but you are also telling yourself that you will go to the gym. Preparing your mind and body for a morning workout several hours in advance increases the likelihood you’ll actually go work out.
Put Your Alarm Clock Across the Room
It’s easy to fall victim to the snooze button when it’s within arm’s reach. Placing your alarm clock across the room will ensure you get out of bed and walk over to it—once you’re up it’s much easier to stay that way.
Change Your Wakeup Time Gradually
Those of us who aren’t morning people (yet) will shudder at the thought of getting up even earlier than we already do. If you have trouble waking up now, an earlier time might seem impossible, but by gradually waking up a few minutes earlier each day, you’ll slowly train your body instead of shocking it suddenly with a early wake up time.
Connect With Your Gym Community
Ed Gober, Vice President of Fitness at New York Health and Racquet Club says there’s a great sense of community among members who work out in the morning.
“We see that the people who train in the morning are always the most consistent people in the facility. They have the most frequency of check-ins because those are the people who are really keyed in on wellness,” he said. “There’s a great sense of community especially with our group exercises classes...You know the person next to you because they’re there at 7 a.m. with you every day. It’s that ‘we’re all in this together' mindset—and it’s motivating.”