Why & How to Switch to a Morning Workout Routine

Do you often struggle to get to the gym after work? Maybe after a long, hard day, all you feel like doing is going home and relaxing. Or perhaps you’re worrying about all the endless stuff you still have to do when you get home, and you just think, “I don’t have time for a workout!” Well, perhaps working out in the morning might be worth a try! (And you *don’t* have to naturally be a morning person to do it!) Check out these benefits to exercising in the morning versus the evening, plus how to actually make the switch!

Why Should I Exercise in the Morning?

Here’s the medical reason: according to Healthline, morning exercise can result in the following:

Better controlled appetite
Higher levels of fat-burning
Higher likelihood of increased movement throughout the day
Better control of high blood pressure
Better quality and deeper sleep
Improved focus and decision-making throughout the day
Decreased risk of hypoglycemia during exercise for those with Type 1 diabetes

But there are a lot of other non-medical benefits to a morning workout.

Less Crowded at the Gym

In my experience, the gym is *much* less crowded in the morning hours. More people tend to stop by the gym on their way home from work, which for most office folks is anywhere between 5 and 8 pm. (I’ve even seen lots of people in the gym as late as 9 pm!) If you don’t like having to deal with a ton of people or a wait for machines, try going in the morning instead. There may still be a lot of gym-goers depending on the time you get there, but it seems to be crowded for less time overall. I’ve noticed there are more people at my gym at about 5:30-6:30 am, and then it dies down at 6:30 am and much more by 7 am. So depending on what time you have to go to work in the morning, this leaves a lot more time with fewer crowds.

Fewer Showers During the Day

If you prefer showering in the morning versus at night, working out in the morning can knock out two things at once! Work up a sweat, and then just wash it off with your normal morning shower. Otherwise, you’re showering in the morning prior to your day, and then again later after a workout. Save your money and save your skin! Less water is used, resulting in a lower water bill, and your skin will be less dry too.

Can Go Home to Relax After Work

When I did evening workouts, I sometimes struggled to go to the gym or exercise. I was tired from a long day and just wanted to put my feet up! If you get your workout done first thing in the morning, you can do just that – no worrying about making yourself exercise later, no guilt racking up when you just want to be lazy… You can simply leave work and come home to relax and enjoy your evening! It’s nice to get it done first thing in the morning when you’re not drained to the max!

Get the Blood Flowing when you First Wake Up

Moving our bodies around is one of the most effective ways to help us wake up in the morning. Your body has been stationary for hours. The muscles need to start moving; the joints need to get oiled up. Exercising in the morning can start your body off on the right foot, loosening it up for the day ahead.

A Few Thousand Steps Down by 9 AM

Are you aiming for a certain step goal by the end of the day? How about doing some cardio, a run, or a walking workout nice and early? Imagine seeing your step count skyrocket first thing in the morning – by the time you roll into work, you’ve already accomplished ¼ to ½ of your goal! It feels so awesome knowing that you’re already well on your way and you have less to do to hit that milestone.

Cooler on Summer Mornings

Do you like to run outside? Going for that run at 7 AM on a summer morning feels SO much better than running in the evening. The morning hours are always the coolest, when the air has had 8 hours to cool down. So if you prefer to run outside rather than on a treadmill, try running earlier in the day.

Here’s how to make the switch from evening to morning workouts!

So now I’ve mentioned some of the lesser-known benefits to working out in the morning. But what if you’re not naturally a morning person? What if the idea of jumping out of bed and exercising at the crack of dawn repulses you? Well, check this out: I’ve *always* been a night owl. When I first heard of this concept, I was in such disbelief: I couldn’t even *fathom* getting up early to “heaven forbid”… work out! But now, I actually *prefer* to work out first thing in the morning! Here are some tips I’ve learned to make the switch easier!

Plan Your Morning in Advance

You have a morning routine, with certain things you need to do. Where in your morning would a workout fit best? Do you want to go work out first thing, and then wash your face, shower, and have breakfast? Do you want to read a little or enjoy a similar low-key activity and then workout? (I’ve done both.)

Block your morning appropriately. You already know how long it takes you to do the rest of your routine. In order to add a workout, how much extra time do you need? What time do you want to be doing your workout? Work backwards from the time you need to leave for work or whatever your day holds. Divide your morning into half-hour increments, and plan the different parts to your morning, including the workout. Once you have your morning blocked out, figure out what time you have to wake up to make it happen.

Sign up for a Morning Class

If you belong to a gym, yoga center, or community center, take a look at their morning group classes. Find one class that looks really interesting, that excites you. Sign up for it; make the commitment! (Even better if you have to pay for it – nothing motivates me like the thought of not getting my money’s worth!) If you’re looking forward to a fun class, you’ll be more persuaded to go! You can also find online memberships that offer live-streamed classes, so no worries about actually going to a gym!

Grab Some New Gear

Go ahead and treat yourself to a nice new pair of athletic shoes or cute workout clothes. How about an exercise ball or a new set of dumbbells? Buying just a little pre-reward that you can look forward to actually using ASAP can be a great motivator.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Getting less sleep than you need will be a surefire way to kill your ideals of exercising early. Put the screens away an hour before bedtime. Go to bed early to ensure you don’t feel sleepy when you wake up. Wake up to a light alarm that mimics the sun’s light to wake you gently. (For more, check out my 6 tips on how to wake up refreshed!)

Lights On, Shoes On

Turning on lights quickly instead of lounging in the darkness can help to wake you up faster. Get dressed in your workout clothes and shoes before you have the chance to change your mind. Drink a glass of water or milk to wake up your body. Then get right into that workout – don’t dilly-dally!

Takeaway

After doing all these things, it should become easier to work out in the morning than you might otherwise think. Trust me! I couldn’t stand the thought of getting up early to exercise; I had a hard enough time dragging myself out of bed. But after doing these tips myself, I’ve changed to enjoy working out earlier instead of later – I actually prefer it hands down! So trust me – try these tips, and hopefully soon you’ll be enjoying those mornings with a sunny smile!