Get the most out of your day by following these seven simple tips. Optimising your morning routine will leave you feeling fresh and ready to handle everything life throws at you.
Humans are creatures of habit. We can train ourselves to adapt to, for instance, regular training in the mornings before work. Building a new routine is slightly challenging at first but, if you’re dedicated to staying fit and healthy, it’ll soon become second nature. In a few short weeks, you’ll feel like a new person, with more energy during the day to tackle your to-do list.
Fit in an early morning workout
Exercising in the morning may seem daunting but, for many of us, this is the only way to ensure we fit in a training session. Often, we start the day with good intentions, hoping to pop by the gym after work but then life gets in the way. Starting your day off with exercise isn’t only a good way to make sure we actually do it, it’s also a great way to boost our energy levels before starting our day.
Pro tip: get a workout buddy
Scared you won’t be able to resist hitting the snooze button? A great way to avoid this is to find a friend who wants to (or already does) train early in the morning. Nothing motivates you more than knowing your gym buddy is waiting for you - you don’t want to let them down!
Not only does your gym buddy give you a reason to get up, but they’ll also have you exercising more efficiently in the gym. The buddy system is great for both your overall fitness and for general wellbeing (sneaking in some much needed socialising). This is why so many of us love training every day.
Get at least seven to eight hours of sleep
Training in the morning means earlier nights. Sleep is just as important as your nutrition and regular exercise if you want to stay healthy. Our bodies rely on sleep to recover and to restore energy. When it comes to working out, you won’t be able to train properly if you’re exhausted from a sleepless night.
To help you create a healthy routine, prepare for bed earlier and employ mindfulness techniques such as meditation and stretching. You can also have a cup of camomile tea to relax. Once you’re used to training in the morning, you’ll find that you sleep more efficiently and wake up feeling fresher, and hungry to take on the day.
Stretch as soon as you get up
The main sticking point for most people, when it comes to working out in the morning, is the action of getting up. We’d all love to lie in bed until the very last minute we’re forced to get up for work. However, it doesn’t have to be this way - you can make getting up easier by doing some simple stretches as soon as your alarm goes off.
Don’t sleep next to your alarm clock. Put it just out of reach so that you are forced to get up to turn it off. Once you’re up, the hardest part is done.
Warm up for training by doing a few dynamic stretches and yoga poses to get you limber. Before you know it, you’ll be fully awake and ready to make your way to the gym. Stretching will also prepare your muscles for harder bouts of activity and will reduce your chances of picking up an injury.
Eat a light breakfast for an extra energy boost
If you’re seriously depleted of energy in the morning, then eating breakfast is a surefire way to get the boost you need. It doesn’t have to be a large meal. By simply eating a piece of fruit or preparing some yoghurt with muesli, you’ll get enough nutrients to liven up your body.
Always make sure not to eat too much. That will be counterproductive to your training, as you’ll need to spend more time digesting what you’ve eaten.
Prepare your workout gear the night before
Get into the routine of preparing everything for the morning workout the night before. This eliminates the struggle of finding things when you’re half asleep, cutting down the time it takes to get ready.
You’ll also have peace of mind knowing that everything is ready and waiting for you, aiding a better night’s sleep. You won’t be lying awake in bed trying to remind yourself to find your gym card when you wake up.
Wake up earlier than you need to
Many of us have to go to work in the morning. This can lead to becoming demotivated when it comes to sticking to a morning routine. Why? Because, you know that if you lose 20-minutes at home you now have an excuse to avoid the gym. It’s easy to convince yourself that there isn’t enough time to fit in a gym session if it means you could run late for work.
Set your alarm ten to fifteen minutes earlier than you need to - giving you time to make up for any delays. If you’re getting enough sleep and everything is prepared in advance, waking up a few minutes earlier gives you time to breathe. By waking up earlier you’ll also have no excuse to skip the gym. The best part is you’ll miss the crowds, have a great training session and, hopefully, a very productive day.
Think about how you’ll feel afterwards
Lastly, sticking to a routine is about mindset and dedication. The best way to stay motivated in the early morning, is to think about how great you’ll feel when you get to work refreshed and pumped after your workout. You can start you day guilt-free, knowing you won’t need to procrastinate hitting the gym after work.
So, what do you need to do now? Tell yourself that this is what you want to to reach your health and fitness goals. Once you’ve trained like this a few days in a row, you’ll feel so good that you’ll wonder why you haven’t been doing this your whole life.
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