Let me just start by saying that I NEVER thought I would be a morning workout person. Me? Wake up early to do something? No, that’s just a lie I tell myself to justify going to bed and neglecting whatever work needed to be done. Now that I think about it, never have I ever exercised regularly enough to be considered any type of workout person. However, after months of a solid routine, I can officially say that I, Cierra, wake up before the sun most mornings to fit a workout in.

Why workout early?

There are several reasons why I recommend exercising in the morning.

Energy Boost

Idk about you all, but I get a major endorphin high after I finish a good workout. Half of the time I am almost bouncing off the walls with energy. Why not start the day with a little happy juice that is free and completely natural?

Reduces Excuses

If I wait to exercise, I can find a million different excuses to convince myself not to. Suddenly, I am too busy or too tired to workout. However, completing the task first thing in the morning cuts down on my negotiating (besides the whole “not wanting to leave my warm bed” self-talk, but we will get back to that later).

Accomplishment

Are you a list maker like I am? Well exercising in the morning is a quick way to cross something off your to-do list. There is the added satisfaction of tackling a huge, but necessary daily task. I always feel accomplished when I complete an early workout, especially on my days off from work.

More Time for Fun

…or obligations after work. I have one night workout in my schedule and I feel completely unproductive afterwards. By the time I am finished, home, showered, and fed, it is almost bedtime. Now that my workouts are mostly scheduled in the morning, I have so much time to engage in social activities, work on the blog, or run errands after work. This becomes particularly important to me in the summer time!

But HOW?

Trust me, I know that getting into a morning workout routine is challenging. However, as long as my schedule allows, I will never go back! Here are my top 5 tips for becoming a morning exerciser:

Schedule Classes

The motivation behind the scheduling classes is two-fold. For one, it takes the guess work out of your exercise routine and gives you an activity to look forward to (the key is to engage in classes that excite you). The second motivating factor? Money! Idk about you all, but I do not enjoy flushing $22 down the drain simply because I didn’t feel like getting up for a class. Let’s be honest, if there is money on the line, I will try my darndest to make it to the class.

Plan Your Workout Attire

When you are rolling out of bed to make it to a 5:45 am class, you want the least amount of obstacles in your way as possible. Planning out your outfit ahead of time gives you one less thing to think about. At the very least, have in mind a few of your favorite combination that are guaranteed to work in a pinch.

Set the Alarm

This one sounds obvious, but just set your alarm. Set multiple alarms. ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A SNOOZER. Then set it again tomorrow. Even if you miss a day. This will help you create a habit that you will be thankful for later. I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to throw my phone across the room as it blared at 4:45a…then 5:00a…and again at 5:20a. Trust me, eventually, your body will be used to just getting up and hustling out the door (this would probably be a good time to get rid of the snoozing habit if you have one haha).

Reward Yourself

When I first started introducing morning workouts into my routine, I started with a single class once a week. Then, as a reward for getting up early to exercise (on a Friday!), I would go get a smoothie. This reward system was simple, but effective. Initially, I started looking forward to the smoothie that I could have at the end of the week after earning it. Next, I started looking forward to the workout itself. Find something small (and preferably healthy) that you can treat yourself with as you start your morning exercise journey!

Find a Gym Crew or Accountability Buddy

One thing that I have found in my workout journey, is that it is nice to have a community of people who are sweating it out with you. I have been lucky to find a gym crew that helps me stay motivated to work out (even when it’s just sending a text of well wishes if I miss a class). This can also be done virtually! If you use an exercise tracker (which I highly recommend) then share your activity with others. I used to wake up to a slew of notifications that friends have completed workouts. Now, many of us are completing workouts at similar times! Sharing your workout goals or activity with another person also helps hold you accountable and guarantees that you have someone rooting for your success. Don’t forget to return the favor!

Are you a morning exerciser? Share some of your motivational tips below!