HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN EARLY MORNING WORKOUT
ROBERT J WINN
SET MULTIPLE ALARMS If you tend to sleep through your alarms or snooze until it’s too let to make it to the gym, try setting numerous alarms. Keep one alarm near your bedside, so it wakes you up, but place another one on the opposite side of your room. This forces you to actually get out of bed and walk over to the alarm to turn it off. Once you’re already out of bed, you have the necessary momentum to get ready for your workout.
HAVE AN ACCOUNTABILITY BUDDY While having an exercise partner makes working out more fun, you may not be able to find someone willing to work out at the same time as you. However, that doesn’t mean there’s no one willing to help you reach your goals. Find an accountability partner, someone who will call or text you at the time you’re supposed to be working out to make sure you’re actually doing it. You can even set up an incentive program with this person if that helps motivate you.
CUT YOURSELF SOME SLACK Some mornings, you really will struggle to get out of bed. Maybe you stayed up too late finishing a movie or had trouble sleeping. Be kind to yourself on these days and understand that missing one workout is not the end of the world. Listen to your body. If you really need the extra sleep, then snooze your alarm and go back to bed. Just make sure to get to bed earlier next time, so you’re able to do your workout.
DO IT GRADUALLY
If you’ve never been someone who works out early in the morning before, it’s likely that jumping right into it won’t work for you. Instead, work up to the transition gradually. In the beginning, start waking up just 10 minutes before your usual time and do some stretches. Once this ritual feels natural to you, set your alarm another 10 minutes earlier and take a brisk walk or light jog around the block. Keep working your way up slowly until you’re able to spend 45 minutes in the morning exercising.