and suddenly the workout is no more.  But when your workout is already done, because you completed it in the morning, whatever happens the rest of the day doesn’t matter. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always done my runs in the morning, and today, we’re going to talk about how you can become a morning exerciser too . . .

1) Start small 

You have to start somewhere.  Maybe it is just one morning per week.  Maybe it is just 30 minutes at a time.  Whatever it may be, set a reasonable goal for yourself and just do it once.  Then gradually increase week by week.  Don’t get discouraged when it sucks at first, and don’t try to do something too ambitious to start out that it causes you to get discourage.  Just stick with it and it will eventually become a habit.

2) Move your alarm clock

Pick up your alarm clock and put it somewhere else in the room so that you physically have to get out of bed to turn it off. When it goes off, get up, turn it off and just keep walking right out of the room.  Don’t even look back at your bed!

3) Anticipate the snooze

Alternatively to number two above, if you’re someone who genuinely needs that slow wake up, anticipate the snooze time.  Set your alarm 20 or 30 minutes earlier than what you have to get up and then you can snooze it 1 or 2 times.  I need to be up at 6:10 – my alarm starts going at 5:35 and a couple of snoozes later, I’m up and getting run ready.

4) Prepare your workout stuff 

Preparation is key.  The night before, put all your workout things in a pile on the floor, away from your bed.  Everything down to your underwear, socks, headphones and keys.  Not being able to find one  thing in the morning as you fumble around in the dark can be enough to make you want to (or have to) call the whole thing off!

5) Prepare everything else

Just like you need to have everything workout related ready, remember too that you need to prepare everything for after your workout, if you are going to come back and have to leave right away to go to work.  For me this involves packing my lunch and preparing my breakfast the night before, grinding coffee and setting it on a timer, cutting lemon and getting it ready for lemon water and packing everything else I need in my work bag.  To be honest, I pick out my clothes while I’m running usually – a little mid-run closet visualization – and I am super lucky in that the boy makes a fresh green juice for us while I’m gone. But everything else happens the night before. *(Stay tuned for a post coming soon on some quick breakfast ideas that you can prepare the night before and that require minimal morning time!)*

6) Set cut off times and alternative workouts

I know exactly the time I have to be out the door in order to complete my full run. I know the latest time I can return from a run and still be able to get ready for work with some form of sanity and end in a decent state.  I also know alternate, shorter run routes I can take, or alternate workouts – like tempos and fartleks – I can do if I leave a little late or need to be back a little earlier.  Remember that something is always better than nothing – don’t let waking up a little late be an excuse for ditching the workout altogether.  Having lots of options available no matter how much time you end up having is a key to making sure you are successful in your morning exercise routine.

7) Don’t just play the mental battle, fight the mental battle

I’d be lying if I said it was always easy to get up early, while the rest of the world slumbers on in their warm blankets, especially when a lot of mornings as of late it has been minus 25 or 30 outside.  Your mind plays those games with you, saying you can skip this one time, or go running after work today, or it’s cold out, maybe too cold for running.  And when it happens, you have to be ready to fight back!  When I start thinking anything other than, get your clothes on and get out the door, I remind myself of how much better my day always is when I run first.  How good it makes me feel afterwards and all day long  and how much I always regret it if I don’t.  How really, if I went back to bed, I would only get another 45 minutes and that’s totally not better than a run in the end. Plus, once you’re up, remind yourself that you have already taken the hardest step – don’t go backwards by going back to bed.  Give yourself a pat on the back and get out the door!

This is related to eight and nine above, but find whatever it is that gets you out of bed and gets you into gear. Maybe it’s the feeling during the workout, the feeling after, the satisfaction and pride all day long of knowing you already worked out, or just how much better breakfast is when you are starving hungry from your workout.  Whatever it is, find yours and use it. Every.single.day.

11) Go to bed and get some sleep

Before you attempt to try to get up earlier, go to bed earlier.  Your body will be more ready to wake up and you will feel better rested and more motivated when the alarm goes off!

12) Accept the sacrifices early on

Accept that things will be a little different for your morning routine. You may end up losing a little sleep, you may have to take a shorter shower, and some days you may end up leaving with your hair, house and bathroom a mess, but hey, you did your workout right? The other things will be much easier to deal with later than having to go for a run at 5:30pm on a Friday night, and for me, it is always worth it!

What are your tips and tricks for sustaining a successful morning exercise routine?