So you want to know how to get up early and workout? Getting up early for a workout can be tough, but what if there were ways to make it easier? If you’ve been trying to get up early for a workout, but haven’t had much luck, look no further. This article is jam-packed with 22 different ways to make getting up early for your workouts way easier!
This post is all about how to get up early and workout: 22 super helpful tips!
1. Set out your workout clothes the night before
Setting out your workout clothes might be the best thing you can do in preparation for an early morning at the gym! When your alarm goes off and your biggest goal is to immediately get out of bed, you don’t want to also have to search for the proper clothes to wear directly after.
Having your clothes laid out in advance will save you lots of time (and possibly stress) early in the morning.
2. …Or sleep in your workout clothes
If you want to totally cut out the task of laying out your workout clothes, you can just wear them to bed! If you’re comfortable in your workout clothes and believe you can get a good night’s sleep in them, wearing them to bed is a great way to cut down on some prep for your early morning workout.
3. Prepare all your other gym gear, too
Once you figure out what you’re going to do with your gym clothes, make sure all other items you bring to the gym are laid out and prepared, too.
For example, if you use corded headphones at the gym, be sure to place those in a spot where you won’t forget them when you head out the door in the morning. If you use air pods or an apple watch, make sure those are charged.
If you like to have a cup of coffee before the gym, try setting up your coffee maker to turn on and automatically start brewing before your alarm even goes off. You can also set your keys and/or wallet in an easy to find place so you don’t have to go searching for them in the morning.
Taking steps to prepare your gym essentials the night before can make the next morning much easier.
4. Before bed, have an idea of what you’re going to do at the gym the next morning
Knowing what you are going to do at the gym when you get there in the morning is crucial. You don’t want to wake up in the morning having to question what you’re going to do at the gym once you get there. If you know what workout or class you are doing, it’ll completely eliminate any uncertainty you might have after waking up.
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5. Get to bed at a decent time
It’ll be tough waking up early in the morning if you haven’t gotten an adequate amount of sleep the night before. Be sure to go to bed at a decent hour so you’re not making it more difficult for yourself to wake up early!
6. Before bed, visualize waking up the next morning
This one might sound a little woo-woo, but it can really help. Before you fall asleep, take some time to imagine yourself the next morning. The alarm goes off and you ease out of bed with a positive mindset, throw on your clothes, grab your gear and head out the door. Visualizing this can help you believe it’s possible.
7. Set your alarm, and keep it across the room if needed
Setting your alarm is essential if you want to ensure you wake up on time. If you’re worried that you might hit the snooze button, try placing your alarm across the room before you go to sleep. This way, when your alarm goes off in the morning, you’ll have to get out of bed and walk across the room to turn it off which may prevent you from falling back to sleep!
8. Skip the snooze button
If your alarm goes off and you hit the snooze button, you might be a little later for your workout than you’d prefer, or you may end up sleeping through it entirely! For these reasons, it’s best to avoid the snooze button altogether and get up on the first alarm if you can.
9. Or… Set multiple alarms
If you don’t think you’ll be able to totally avoid the snooze button, or setting multiple alarms just works better for you, go for it. Whatever works to get you up and out of bed!
10. Drink or eat something before you head out the door
If you think it would help entice you out of bed, or make your workout more enjoyable/productive, try drinking or eating something before you head out the door.
11. Have a podcast/playlist ready in advance
Having something you love to listen to – like a podcast, audiobook or playlist – can make your workout even more enjoyable. Having an idea of what you’ll listen to at the gym the next day can be something you’ll look forward to!
12. Get up with a friend
If you’re not too sure you can rely on your willpower alone, try making workout plans with a friend. Sleeping in and skipping your workout will be much harder to do if you know you’d be ditching a friend.
13. Turn on some light
As soon as the alarm goes off, turn on your light. [1] According to Dr. Nathaniel Watson, director of the Harborview sleep clinic in Seattle, light suppresses melatonin secretion, which wakes the body up.
14. Do a workout you look forward to
Having plans to do a workout you don’t genuinely enjoy will make getting up early that much more difficult. Try to find a form of exercise that you don’t mind so that waking up early is the hardest battle you’ll have to fight in the morning.
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15. Remind yourself of the benefits of working out in the AM and getting it over with!
Once you get your workout over with, you won’t have to think about it again for the rest of the day! Likewise, having an accomplishment that early in the morning will put you in a great mood and help you feel confident to tackle whatever else comes your way that day.
16. Do a countdown
When your alarm goes off in the morning, try counting down from 3. As soon as you get to “1”, make it a non-negotiable that you must get out of bed. Having a countdown will help your mind from wandering to any doubtful thoughts about getting out of your comfy bed as soon as you get up!
17. Don’t think too hard when the alarm goes off
Putting your mind on auto-pilot when your alarm goes off will make things a lot easier. Just as in number 16, it’s best to try not to think about the fact that you’re waking up early at all! Instead, focus on rolling out of bed and don’t think too much into it. One foot in front of the other!
18. Flush your face with cold water
Another tactic you can try is flushing your face with cold water as soon as your alarm goes off. This is a tip that comes recommended by Hal Elrod, author of The Miracle Morning – a great book about the benefits of waking up before 8am.
19. Have a post-workout meal you look forward to
Having a meal to look forward to when you get back from your workout might help motivate you to get to the gym, finish your workout, and get home. So whatever your favorite breakfast or post-workout meal is, make sure that’s readily available when you get back from your workout. It can act as a reward for getting to the gym!
20. Ease into it (5 days a week at first might be tough)
If waking up early every single morning for a week seems like a lofty goal, first try waking up early one or two days of the week. The last thing you want to do is burn yourself out in that first week and give up on your goal of waking up early altogether. So, ease into it first, and aim for one to a few days a week of waking up early at first.
21. Sign up for a class that charges you if you cancel
If losing money would be a good motivator, try signing up for a class that’ll charge you if you cancel or don’t show up! This way, you can either get up and head to the gym or lose some money.
22. Remember your WHY for getting up early for a workout
When your alarm goes off, and you’re beginning to question why on earth you’d ever want to get up so early to go workout, take inventory and remember your WHY. Why do you want to get up early and workout?
Are you trying to get in better shape, build your endurance, build your strength, train for an event, improve your mental health, build your self confidence, etc.?
Whatever your #1 reason is for getting to the gym early, remind yourself of this often to ensure you never lose sight of your goals.
Workout gear I recommend:
This post was all about how to get up early and workout: 22 super helpful tips!
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