8 Tips to Increase Your Morning Workout Motivation
Implement these tips to help increase your productivity throughout the day
A good way to make sure you don't skip the gym is by getting your workout done first thing in the morning! The thing is, most people set their alarms for 6 a.m., or some other ungodly hour, and end up hitting snooze and skipping their workout anyways. We can't blame you! Most of the time it's still dark outside, you're wrapped up in your comfy blanket and the thought of getting out of bed to workout is not really ideal... Some extra time in bed can't hurt, right? Well, it can't hurt, but it can lead you to skip your workout altogether. Do away with this notion that spending a few extra minutes in bed is better! All you need is a little morning workout motivation to help get you revved up and your body moving!
You've probably heard before that motivation isn't really good to rely on to work out, and we do agree, but when you're new to early morning workouts having a motivator can make all the difference. It'll help you get out of bed to hit the gym or your home gym, and after a few days or weeks, you'll build the habit of waking up early in the morning to work out thus helping you build self-discipline which will make morning workouts a forever type of thing! So in an effort to help you get started working out in the morning and build better habits, we've put together 8 of the best tips that will help increase your morning workout motivation so you never hit snooze again.
1. Keep your workouts short at first
When you're just starting out with your new morning workout journey, consider cutting your usual workout time shorter, so if you usually work out for an hour, cut it down to 30 minutes. That way you're not diving in and waking up two hours earlier than you normally do, doing that could potentially lead to you hitting snooze and never attempting an early a.m. workout again!
Start small and slow, set your alarm 30 minutes to an hour earlier than usual, and as you get used to your new morning routine, you can increase your workout time.
2. Have your workout clothes next to you
Right before you go to bed, pick out a cute workout outfit, and set it next to your bed, on your nightstand, or even under your pillow. That way it's there ready for you to change into as soon as you wake up!
You might not think this yet, but it is a life-changing tip. If you don't have your workout clothes planned or ready then you'll just waste 5-10 minutes looking for an outfit, that's precious workout time! So, make your morning less stressful and easier for you to get out of bed by having your outfit planned and next to you. And if you're working out at home, take it a step further and have all your gym equipment laid out and ready for your sweat session!
3. Plan your workout the night before
Just like having your workout clothes planned, having your morning workout routine planned the night before is a great motivator! Not having a set workout plan or anything ready is just going to stress you out when you wake up. We don't want to raise our cortisol levels (stress hormone) because that can affect our bodies negatively. This is why you should try to limit the things you need to prepare in the morning and do them the night before.
Plan out what you want to focus on in the morning - cardio, lower body, upper body. Then write down exactly what exercises you want to do, how many sets, and reps. Then set that piece of paper next to your bed as a reminder. OR if you are subscribed to the One Fitness app then I already have your workout planned for you 😉
4. Plan a delicious healthy breakfast
Food is the ultimate motivator, so why not plan a delicious healthy breakfast the night before to have something to look forward to after working out? Make a post-workout breakfast that makes getting up early to sweat worth it!
Obviously, we don't suggest going for a sugary bowl of cereal or pancakes drenched in syrup. Instead, plan a nutrient-dense meal with plenty of protein and good carbs that will give your muscles what they need to recover. For example, whipping up an omelet filled with your favorite veggies or making a smoothie bowl (here are some more healthy breakfast tips for weight loss)!
5. Have some space between your bed and your alarm
Most people have alarms set on their phones. This makes it so easy to just hit the snooze, continue sleeping, and miss your early workout. This tip will help you avoid that!
Here's what you do... Set your alarm the night before making sure to put the volume really high. Maybe change the alarm sound to one of your favorite songs, it will help set up a better mood for your morning routine. Then put your phone somewhere far from your bed, like on the workout outfit that you laid out on your dresser! That way you're forced to get up out of bed to turn off your alarm and put on your workout clothes.
It's the perfect setup! Just try not to get seduced back into your comfy bed... As soon as you're up, change into your clothes, and get moving!
6. Have an accountability buddy
Although there are upsides to working out alone, it can get pretty lonely and make working out less fun and sometimes even harder! Having a workout buddy can help you stay accountable with your new early morning routine, and it'll help both of you to build a good habit of working out in the morning, so it's a win-win!
Don't have a workout buddy or have any fitness-loving friends? Consider joining a fitness class that you'll enjoy, like SoulCycle or Zumba, and try it a few times to see if you like it! This is a good way to try something new, and meet new friends with similar fitness interests as you.
7. Sleep early
To get up early, you have to sleep early. It's not realistic to expect to get up feeling refreshed and energized for an a.m. workout if you only got 4-5 hours of sleep the night before. Plus, not getting enough sleep can impact the results you get! So, remember to get at least 6-8 hours of good sleep a night. Getting good, deep sleep is when your body is working hard to recover and rebuild the muscle that was broken down during your workout.
To ensure you get good sleep, create a nighttime routine. Having a nighttime routine, like a morning routine, will help you get relaxed and ready for bed so you can get better sleep at night and wake up feeling refreshed and energized!
8. Don't beat yourself up if you miss a session
Nobody is perfect, so allow yourself the occasional setback. Oversleeping and missing a session isn't the end of the world, it's not going to ruin all your progress. In fact, sometimes it's good to embrace it and just rest, it could be a sign that your body was tired and needed the extra sleep! Just don't make it a habit. If you missed one session after a streak of morning workouts, enjoy it, and start fresh the next day!
Waking up at the crack of dawn for an early morning workout is not easy, it's actually the hardest part. But following the above tips will help get you started, and once you're consistent it becomes easier and easier! You might not get out of bed every time, you might have a few setbacks, but try your best not to fall back to bad habits. Remind yourself of your fitness goals, try a new workout, create a new workout playlist, stay accountable with your gym buddies, and just think about all the free time you'll have the rest of the day if you finish your workout early!
If you need some extra morning workout motivation, consider a personal trainer, or better yet get the One Fitness app! It's like having a personal trainer in the palm of your hands 😉 You'll have your workouts personally planned for you every week by Iulia herself! Plus, have access to other cool features like progress tracking which allows you to practice progressive overload directly on the app. Try your first workout for free - no subscription required! Simply download the One Fitness app, go to Goals & Workouts, select the goal that best fits yours, and get started working out with Iulia!