By Maria Disla
Is pressing the snooze button on that early morning alarm part of your daily routine? Perhaps you just don’t consider yourself a morning person or you make up excuses that you don’t have enough time to sweat before heading into the office.
According to studies conducted by Appalachian State University1, there are numerous benefits of getting to the gym earlier in the morning. From sleeping longer at night and higher levels of relaxation to lowering blood pressure, research shows that the best time to exercise is first thing in the morning.
You may not be a natural-born morning person, but with a few simple tips it can be a smooth transition to make your early morning sweat a brand new habit.
Think you might want to try working out before sunrise? Here are five tips to help you get in your workout and start your day on the right foot.
1. Eat an early dinner
Try to avoid eating within three hours of your anticipated bedtime. This will allow your body more time to digest food and avoid heart burn.
2. Limit screen time
Avoid watching TV, using your phone or playing on any other digital devices at least one hour before bedtime. Screen time at night keeps you from falling asleep and sleeping well. Your brain’s electrical activity increases, which keeps you from calming down into a peaceful state of mind for quality sleep.
3. Set out tomorrow’s workout clothes
Choosing your outfit the night before will help reduce stress and save you time in your morning routine. Waking up and seeing your workout outfit laid out will be a great motivator to get you up and on that bike.
4. Stretch
Instead of hitting the snooze button, take the extra 10 minutes to stretch. It’s a great way to energize your day and ease away any stress or tension from the previous day or a funky sleeping position.
5. Remember the why
The key to finding motivation and keeping it is to think about all that you accomplish in your morning workout. The feeling you get when you pushed past a hill or were able to get in one more rep. And just remember: No one ever finishes a workout and thinks, “I wish I’d hit snooze and skipped that workout!”
Maria Disla is founder and CEO of Pure Indoor Cycling.
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