Mornings can be hard - trust me, I know the joys of hitting the snooze button. But, I still LOVE them. The air is at its freshest, it’s as still and quiet as can be, and there is an overwhelming feeling that anything is possible!
When it comes to exercising (hard) in the morning, it becomes 100 times more difficult for a lot of people, including myself. I usually hit the gym leisurely at 8 a.m. which gives me plenty of time to have coffee, read a book, check some emails, and eat a banana 😛
No 8 a.m. is not difficult and that’s not what I’m referring to. I’m talking about the 5 a.m. alarm that goes off for a 6 a.m. RPM class or any other strenuous physical activity. At 6 a.m. most of your neighbours are blissfully snoozing away in their soft warm bed! But you madam, are a goddamn trooper who likes to achieve results so you get up even if you feel like hiding under your doona and dreaming of sausage dogs…
Here are the 5 methods I use to make it easy for me to get up at the crack of dawn and smash an early morning workout before most people have even raised an eye-lid!
Get prepared the night before.
Tell yourself that you are getting up early and you’re going to workout. Pump yourself up by turning it into a challenge or a competition - tell yourself if you get up you’re going to be a legend - whatever works. Also, make sure you get to bed early and get enough shut eye time to wake up.
Have your workout clothes ready to roll.
Place your gear at the foot of your bed the night prior so you don’t need to think about what you are going to wear in the morning. Let’s face it - at that hour, you’ll probably be half asleep. This is a great way to train yourself to go to the gym early.
Set two alarms.
Set your alarm twice within five minutes apart just in case you roll over and hit snooze or turn it off in your sleep (I have done this many times). The second one should be an automatic notification that it’s time to get your ass to the gym. Mini hack: Name your alarms using awesome trigger words or phrases like “Get up and smash it!”, “No excuses, up NOW!”
Remember how awesome you’ll feel.
You might not feel great in the process of working out, BUT you’ll certainly reap the benefits after you’re done. From the energy you gain to sense of accomplishment that fills you up even though it’s 7 am and your boyfriend is still in bed - it’s unbeatable. You just smashed it girl! Use THAT feeling as a reminder the next time you are tempted to hit snooze.
Drag a mate along.
This is the best. If you’ve organised to get to the gym early with a mate - hey presto, you’re now responsible for someone else and vice versa. They won’t let you slack off and you’re going to have a blast!
And no. 6 - I know I said 5, but have a cup of COFFEE and a banana for breakfast!!!!!
If you have any suggestions for how to get up early and smash a workout I would love to hear them 🙂 Comment below!
SWEAT. MOVE. SMILE. #TheHarperMovement
Article by Mon – M.B Harper
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