Thing is, that type of intensity prevents a lot of people from even giving it a shot, she explains. A more approachable way to think about it: Start your day with a relaxing ritual. For Kelly, that’s drinking coffee while watching her favorite YouTube videos for about 15 to 20 minutes before willing herself to exercise. “I am not a morning person,” explains Kelly, who nevertheless works out early as a way to fit it into her busy schedule. “When I know that the first things I get to do in the morning [are things] I really enjoy—they’re just fun to me, they’re not hard—it makes me want to get out of bed.”
Think about a chill activity that soothes you, whether that’s scrolling cooking videos, cuddling with your pup, or doodling in a coloring book, and make that the first item on your a.m. docket before you even think about lacing up your sneakers. Sure, you’ll have to wake up a few minutes earlier, but knowing something enjoyable awaits will make climbing out of bed, and ultimately sticking to your workout plans, a lot more doable.
6. Keep it realistic—which may mean opting for shorter workouts.
If the thought of a daunting workout—whether that’s an hour-long spin class, a five-mile run, or a hot yoga session—is enough to keep you hiding under the covers, make things less intimidating by planning for shorter workouts that actually gel with your schedule. Remember: You don’t have to sweat it out for a certain amount of time for it to “count” as a workout—even brief bursts of movement can provide awesome physical and mental benefits.
To get the most bang for your buck, look for short classes or plan routines—like a 30-minute HIIT class, or a 20-minute full-body strength session—that will have you working hard without sacrificing tons of your precious morning time. This approach can spell the difference between being up at 5:30 versus 6, says Gruba. And knowing you don’t have to get up quite as early can make the habit that much easier to stick to.
7. And try to make your workouts a little cozier too.
If the thought of putting on tight exercise clothes first thing is enough to quash your motivation altogether, make your workout feel cozy—way more appealing—by dressing in ultra-comfy attire. Think: that super soft hoodie or those luxe velour sweatpants. This is another method Kelly relies on to make her early morning workouts happen.
“By just changing what I’m wearing, I change my whole attitude,” she says. Instead of pulling on form-fitting or compressive gear for a morning run, for example, she swaps it for a baggy sweatshirt instead, which she says automatically makes her feel happy and relaxed. “If I know I’m gonna feel nice and warm and cozy, then this run is going to be fun,” Kelly says. “It’s not going to be intimidating.”
And remember: Just because everyone else in spin class wears bike shorts, or your whole running group dons compression pants, it doesn’t mean you need to follow suit. “You can just wear what feels comfortable for you,” Kelly says.
8. Book a nonrefundable workout class.
If you’ve put your hard-earned money into a workout class, chances are you’re going to make sure you get to it. Gruba’s gym charges a no-show fee for folks who sign up for one and then bail, and she says that monetary incentive helps a lot of members stick to their a.m. plans. After all, no one likes to feel like they just flushed dollars down the drain.
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