How many times did you hit snooze this morning? Many of us often find ourselves sleeping in and rushing to eat breakfast and get out the door, skipping our workout for the day (again), or cramming in a gym session at the end of the day when we are tired and worn out. Did you know that working out in the morning may lead to healthier lifestyle choices all day? Think you just don’t have the time to squeeze in a workout in the morning? In just 5 simple steps, you can become a morning exerciser. Here’s how:
Prepare before you sleep
If you have to spend 10 minutes digging through your drawers to find matching socks, you’re less likely to get 30 minutes of exercise. Rather than scrambling to get dressed and out the door for a jog, put everything you need out on a chair, including your workout clothes, socks and shoes, and water bottle, before you go to sleep. You might even pick out your work outfit for the next day, too.
Set your phone out of reach
Are you a chronic-snoozer? Hitting the snooze button every five minutes is convenient when your phone is on the bedside table. Set your alarm on your phone before you go to bed, and then place it on a dresser across the room. You’ll have to get up and out of bed to turn off the alarm, so you might as well put on your workout clothes and start your day!
Motivate yourself
Plan rewards for getting up and exercising in the morning. Make a pact with yourself that if you get up five days a week and fit in at least 30 minutes of exercise in the morning, you can grab a cup of coffee on your way to work, or go shopping for a new outfit to wear on Friday night. Need more motivation? Make a playlist of all your favourite, upbeat songs to listen to while exercising.
Start slow
You don’t have to commit to an hour-long treadmill session at the gym right away. Start slow with a 10-minute workout before you take a shower. Try doing reps of pushups, lunges, star jumps, and crunches before you eat breakfast. You can even take your dog for a walk in the morning, go for a bike ride, or vow to take the stairs instead of the elevator at work. Slowly increase the time and the intensity of your workout, and before you know it, you’ll be a morning workout warrior!
Breakfast on-the-go
If your new exercise routine is shaving off time for breakfast, don’t just skip eating. There are several options for eating healthy breakfast options on the go from Jenny Craig. Try a Ham & Cheese Toastie or an Oat & Apricot Bar, and you’ll be on your way!
