How to get up to exercise in the morning

It is a known fact that if you exercise in the morning you are much more likely to actually do so than if you leave it for later in the day.  Usually because you then have a lot more excuses - no time, kids are sick, food burned, too tired, long day at work, etc.  But what do you do if you didn't have a good night's sleep and are fighting the urge to hit the snooze button to just sleep another 30 minutes or even an hour?  What if you are simply not motivated enough to get up?  Here are 5 things that I like to do to get myself up in the mornings that little bit earlier for a nice workout:

1.  Be exercise ready in the morning

It is a good idea to sleep in your workout clothes.  This way you will not have an easy excuse in the mornings since you are already ready for your workout.  If this is not comfortable enough for your, put your workout clothes on your bedside ready for you to change the next morning.  

2.  Get up to snooze your alarm

Put your phone or clock alarm away from your bedside so that you need to get up to cancel or snooze it.  Getting up for your alarm, even if you are groggy and half-asleep, will wake up your body giving you a better chance of not turning around and sleeping further.  Resist the urge to snooze your phone's alarm and take your phone back to bed with you.

3.  Think of the benefits

We all know what the benefits of exercise are: more energy, feeling happier, healthier heart and body, good for your muscles and bones, better memory and concentration, and better skin and hair.  But consider the benefits of getting up and doing your exercise versus you lying in bed - you will have more energy if you get up and exercise than you will with 30 minutes of napping.  Your skin and hair will look nicer for the day than when you lie in bed for the last nap.  Your body will be ready for the day and whatever it throws at you if you get up and exercise, but if you nap it certainly will just continue to be lazy.

4.  Tell yourself you need to earn that relaxing and soothing shower in the morning

Your body deserves a nice shower after a good workout, but not after a snoozed nap.  Just like you have to work for everything else in your life, try to work for that shower in the moorings.

5.  Give yourself an exercise boost

Consider having a pre-workout drink to get you amped and energised for your workout.  There are some quick and easy to make shakes available, like Beachbody's energize pre-workout formula or Herbalife's prepare shake.  This will help you get amped for your workout.

Exercising is a big part of living a healthier life and being the best versions of ourselves.  But just like many other things in life it takes discipline.  Do not hesitate to make it as easy on yourself as possible.

♥ Michelle Smillie ♥ 

Let life be, let love in