Is the term “not a morning person” really a thing? Or is it just something that someone said and others validated? I do believe that some people wake up easier than others. I witness that in my household. I think sometimes exercising in the morning just isn’t possible. I am talking about life events, work schedules, and other conflicting reasons. However, imagine squeezing in additional time to focus on your health first thing in the morning. Exercising in the morning has become a thing for me in recent years. Mainly with motherhood and my work schedule. I absolutely love it and feel the best when I exercise first thing in the morning.
Here are a few times that have helped me establish a morning exercise routine:
- Prep your mind. Psych yourself up for your big plans. Get in your head and tell yourself that you will start this journey, and there is no turning back. Your mind is powerful. Your mind can overcome physical pain. I can vouch for this when I went through childbirth. You will likely commit and execute if you set your mind up to do something. I read this book, Atomic Habits. I highly recommend this book to start a new habit or break a negative one. It is a quick read and can guide you if you want to add a morning exercise routine to your daily life. That exercise routine becomes a habit, leading to other positive things.
- Find your exercise space. It is essential to designate where you will exercise. We are very fortunate in today’s technology-driven world. We have many options at our fingertips. There are even free options or very low-cost options. Figure out if you will work at home or outside of the house. You can utilize YouTube, Pinterest, the web, social media, a paid workout plan, a gym membership, or a home setup. You will need to figure out if you need equipment or if you will focus on bodyweight exercises. Establishing your space is a great start, giving you more drive to finish the work.
- Plan your exercise routine. Figure out what type of exercise you want to do. Again, there are so many options. It is best to figure out what personally works for you and if you will genuinely enjoy it. If walking for 30 minutes daily works for you, then go for it. I have a Lululemon mirror and a Peloton. Again, the perks of this technology-driven world are as follows: Now, these pieces of equipment were an investment. I consider investing in my health. I utilize the Lululemon mirror for strength training and pilates. I use my peloton for a good, sweaty bike ride. The bike rides are genuinely addicting. A future post will include the details and my obsession with it. Find me on peloton: alyocana. I have personally found this routine works great for me. I currently strength train 5 days per week and ride the peloton at least 6 times.
- Schedule a meeting with yourself. This one is important. Schedule a meeting with yourself to exercise as if it is an important meeting. Pencil your exercise plan into your schedule, and do not arrive late.
- Go to bed early. Now, this one takes an adjustment. I found this one to be the hardest to do. I treat my bedtime like tip #4. I stay consistent in my bedtime and the routine I had before. My kids go to bed early, which helps with this process. My husband is also a massive help after school and work. This allows us some freedom with our time before bed. Reading at night is when I can best focus on the material, and it relaxes me. I do like to enjoy a glass of wine while I am reading. Once 9:30 pm hits, I am ready to close my eyes. Occasionally, I stay up a bit past that, but that 9:30 pm time is my sweet spot to get the best rest. Going to bed early has had a significant impact on my morning routine.
- Execute your workout. Finally, wake up in the morning and execute those exact plans. Get into your workout gear, and move your body. Exercise is a great way to get your health on track and grow as an individual. This growth is both mental and physical. Once you make this a habit, there is no turning back.
I hope that you can find some time in your day to exercise. Look at your mornings and think about how you could incorporate an exercise routine.