5 tips for working out in the morning

This is a guest blog written by Sport UNE Sports Development Coordinator, Justin Shaw

Morning training sessions can boost energy and mental acuity throughout the day. The only downside is that it is morning, and beds are comfy. Now while this seems like a valid excuse to skip our morning sessions, we always end up hating ourselves by mid-afternoon and vowing never to skip another session… until tomorrow. So, in order to make these dreaded sessions more doable, here are some pro tips for getting up and at it bright and early.

Keep your alarm out of reach

This seems like a huge hassle I know. Placing your alarm out of arms reach will force you to get up out of bed to turn it off. I place my phone down the hallway so I have to get up and out of bed just to have some peace.This also stops you hitting snooze 5 minutes before work so that’s a bonus perk. Another good tip is that under no circumstances should you ever choose your favourite song as your alarm… it just never ends well for you or the song! Many people do this because they think it will put them in a better mood. The only thing you will accomplish is you hating that song forever.

Prepare the night before

Before you go to bed be sure to set yourself up for the morning. This might include packing your gym bag, putting your gym clothes out, and if you take a shake or a smoothie, make sure your cups are cleaned and ready to go. More work tonight is less work tomorrow. Make it as easy as you can while you’ve got time and energy if you know you aren’t keen on getting up early.

Meal prep

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Having your meals prepared ahead of time will save you time and energy later. It makes everything easier when you aren’t constantly worried about what you’re going to eat. Figure out if you eat before or after your workout and plan accordingly.

Have a shower 

A quick shower in the morning can wake you up and warm you up. You could also flick the shower to cold for a minute if you’re really needing a jolt to wake you up. A quick in and out to start the engines can do you wonders!

Start slow 

You don’t have to begin straight away with 5am-6am workouts! You could begin with a quick session at 8am, then aim for 7am, and ease yourself into waking up earlier so it’s not such a big shock to your system. Don’t forget to do the same with the time you go to bed. You should aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night, so it’s important to remember to get to bed early so you’re rested and ready to workout!

Give these a go if you need a little extra help getting out the door in the morning. And don’t be worried if you get very tired around lunch, that’s normal when you start morning training! There’s no better way to start your day…. because it can only get better right? Let us know how you go!

Make one of our group fitness classes part of your workout routine!

See the timetable by visiting our website or speaking to one of our friendly staff members on (02) 6773 3856