Getting Up Early Isn't Easy - It's Just Worth It
I get asked all the time how I am so “motivated” so early in the morning.
Well, I’ll be the first to tell you the honest truth … I’m not motivated at all.
In fact, I’m usually really quiet in the mornings until about mid-workout, unless some high-energy individual in the gym challenges me or pushes me harder. Then, after I grunt at my level of perceived effort, I oblige and work harder.
Here’s the thing y’all… you don’t need to be motivated to workout in the morning. or in the afternoon. or any other time. You just need to be dedicated. You need to have a goal. You need to want that goal as much as you want to breathe. Then - and only then - will you be successful.
I know you’ve heard it before. Friends, family, influencers. They say “just do it! you just have to do it! make it a habit!” blah blah blah… but how do you get there? How do you make it a thing you DO? What can you do to mitigate the early morning drudges or forgetting something (headphones, towel), or being late? Below is my recipe for success:
5 Steps to Early Morning Success:
1) Meal Prep Matters
Seriously though. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Nutrition is part of getting (and staying) healthy. If you meal prep on your weekend, you’ll have pre-packaged deliciousness for the rest of the week. Pack your containers at night when you get home, so all you have to do in the morning is grab the bag from the fridge.
2) Clothe Yourself
Layout the clothes and accessories you’ll need the night before. Maybe even sleep in your sports bra so you have one less item to worry about changing into. But beyond that - once you get back from your workout, you’ll need to clothe yourself for the rest of your day - work, errands, or whatever else. Lay those out too, so you don’t have to meander around the house debating what to wear.
Workout List: clothes, shoes, towel, water bottle, monitor or watch, headphones
After Workout List: shower towel, shampoo/conditioner/body wash, hair products, makeup, clothes, shoes, jewelry, headphones, breakfast, lunch, and snacks
3) Not-So-Alarming Alarms
Y’all - this changed my life. I used to wake up every single day to the “MAE DAY RED ALERT” alarm that’s loud AF and sounds like WWIII is about to start in your damn bedroom. Don’t do that. Why start your day with a panic attack? Work on loving yourself more. Set an alarm that’s peaceful and gradually increases in volume so you wake up more naturally. Trust me, you’ll thank me later. That being said, if you don’t trust me, set a back-up alarm 2 minutes later that is a little harsher in tone, so you know you’ll get up and at ‘em. Also - don’t snooze. It’s proven that snoozing your alarm actually makes you more tired/cranky than if you just get up the first time. Promise you… it’s life-changing. Just Get Up. These are YOUR goals you’re chasing, after all.
4) Realistic Timing
If it takes you ten minutes to get to the gym, don’t set your alarm for 15 minutes before class/workout time. That’s ridiculous and an unattainable impossible precedent you’re setting for yourself. You’ll wake up in a panic, immediately be rushing, and frustrated. Why start your day off that way? Instead, give yourself a 5-10 minute buffer. You’ll need 5-10 minutes to change, brush your teeth, bathroom, apply deodorant, and walk out the door, plus travel time. Plan accordingly.
5) Community
Arguably one of the most important pieces of all - and that’s why I saved the best for last. If you don’t like mornings, and you’re not motivated to workout in the mornings (or even if you are) - find a community of humans that you can rely on to miss you if you aren’t there (and call you out on it), motivate you when you do go, and push you beyond your normal limits. Seriously. They can be remote. They can be at the same gym at the same time. It can be the coach/trainer, too. But as much as they’re disappointed in you for no-showing, you have to be disappointed in yourself for leaving them hanging, and leaving yourself hanging by not showing up and getting the workout done. As much as these are your goals you’re working towards, it’s nice to be among like company while you chase them. We understand. We’re here for you, too.
Now let’s go chase some goals… #liveunbreakable