5 reasons why you should try working out in the morning
If you’re not a morning person, the thought of working out before the sun rises probably sounds like torture. I get it. Before I had kids, I always worked out late at night. I never understood those people who went to a 5:45am spin class willingly. But once I became a mom, I had to make some changes in order to continue prioritizing my health.
We all have different schedules, so there’s no wrong time of day to get a workout in. Whatever time is best for you is perfect. But I wanted to share a few of the reasons why changing my routine to the mornings has been great for my work/life balance.
If you’re on the fence about getting up early, or if you’re tired of being too tired to work out at the end of the day, consider these 5 reasons to join the morning workout club.
More energy. When you exercise in the morning, you'll likely have more energy and stamina since you're not tired from the day yet. It'll also give you a nice energy boost to jump start your day. When I work out in the morning, I find that I’m more alert and ready to start my work day. To save time in the morning, lay all of your clothes and gear out the night before. That way you can sleep in until the absolute last second.
Fewer distractions. Your phone's notifications are more tame first thing in the morning, so you’re less likely to be interrupted by texts or emails. If you’re a parent, you’d probably agree that it’s nearly impossible to have a focused workout while your kids are awake. Saving a workout until the end of the day can be risky too, as unforeseen circumstances may prevent you from sticking to your commitment. Ever been stuck in rush hour traffic and missed your fitness class as a result? Or maybe your kid had a last-minute school assignment that derailed your evening plans.
Less crowded gym. The gym is often most crowded after 5pm, which means you may not have access to the equipment you need or your class could be fully booked. Going first thing in the morning will ensure that you're not wasting any time waiting around. I’ve noticed that the crowd that goes to the gym early is not as interested in socializing. They get in, get their workout done and bounce.
Better food choices. Exercising in the morning starts your day off with your health and wellness in mind. I find that I’m more likely to make smart choices that fuel my body (like drinking more water or eating more protein) rather than punishing myself during an evening workout for the food I ate earlier. It’s a proactive routine instead of reactive.
Freed-up evenings. Instead of stressing about making it to the gym before bedtime, you can reclaim your evenings for your rest and relaxation. Dinner time was always a struggle when I worked out at night. I didn’t want to eat too much before exercising, but then I’d end up eating a heavy meal super late at night. Once you switch to a morning routine, you can enjoy your evenings with family/friends, get to bed earlier or do your self care regimen.
This advice isn’t one-size-fits all, and it’s not all-or-nothing either! Maybe just adding one morning workout to your routine will help give you some of these benefits. Let me know how you like it after making the switch.
