Want To Energise Yourself For Morning Workouts? Tash Will Get You Fired Up

All of our bodies follow circadian rhythms that tell us when to be tired and when to be alert. That’s great for keeping to a regular schedule. But not so useful when we want to work out in the mornings. 

Things can get even harder in the winter, when the lack of daylight cues can trick our systems into thinking we should be in bed for even longer. When that happens, you’ll find yourself needing a lot more motivation, which is only natural. But it’s not impossible to overcome or work around. 

You might find it easier to simply shift your workouts to another time of the day. Early starts aren’t for everyone, and the best time to work out is the time that's best for you. What matters is sticking with some form of regular activity that you enjoy and get the most out of. 

But if that’s the only time of day you can commit to regularly, there are a few ways to get yourself up, out, and going Another Round before the sun comes up.

Why you might not feel energised in the morning

You might not be a morning person and there might be elements or commitments in your life that make it harder for you to workout early in the morning.

That being said, there may also be some easier wins that are within your control, to help If you aren’t getting enough good quality sleep or fueling your body with the right type of nutrition then you aren’t giving yourself a fighting chance, so start with the basics.

Here’s what you can do to even the odds. 

Set your body up for early-morning energy

If you want your circadian rhythm to be more on your side in the mornings, then you need to give it a bit of a helping hand. 

• Eat well and eat enough the day before: Nutritious fuel will carry you through even the toughest morning routines, but for many people the thought of eating breakfast at 5am before a training session isn’t appealing. We recommend making sure you have good complex carbs in your evening meal the night before your workout to help your glycogen levels and to ensure you get the most out of your workout. 
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine too close to bedtime: If you can skip it entirely, even better. 
• Minimise screen time before you go to sleep: The bright light can mess with your body’s sleep cycles, making it harder to get high-quality rest. 
• Stick to a regular, relaxing bedtime routine: That might mean reading a book or listening to a meditation. Whatever works for you to wind down at the end of the day. 
• Go to bed earlier: It makes sense that the more quality sleep you get, the easier it’ll be to wake up that little bit earlier and get yourself moving. 

Nail all of these, and the difference you’ll notice will be pretty stark. They’re all good tips to follow in general too. Because even if you’re not hitting the treadmill first thing, we can all benefit from feeling fresher at the start of each day. 

Energise yourself for morning workouts with a routine

There’s a really strong mental element at play with any workout - but even more so some mornings.

If you know you’re not a morning person and go to bed thinking that maybe you’ll get up and exercise, then it’s always going to be an uphill battle. 

That’s why it’s a good idea to start your sessions the night before, with a bit of planning to make sure there are no excuses standing in your way. 

Here are a few things that work for me: 

• Have your kit ready: Nobody wants to pack a bag early in the morning, especially when it only takes 10 minutes to do it the night before. 
• Have a plan (and a playlist): If you approach each session knowing exactly what you’re going to do, you’ll probably find it a lot easier to get up and go. If you’re working with a coach, ask them what they recommend for your morning sessions. Don’t forget to pre-pick a morning pump playlist too. 
• Never snooze: If you can disable your snooze button, do it. It might feel good for a few minutes, but it’ll leave you groggier when you do get up for your workout.
• Give it some time: Habits aren’t formed overnight. It might take you a few weeks to get into a morning exercise rhythm, but trust us, it’s worth it. 

With the mental and physical prep taken care of, you might even find that you start looking forward to morning workouts.

Many of our members have found that due to family or work commitments it can sometimes become a struggle to fit a workout in after a busy day. Once they’ve got used to working out early, it’s been a game-changer.

Once you build momentum, those early morning workouts become easier and part of your routine.  

The benefits of early morning workouts

Workouts release endorphins that put you in a good mood for the day to come, but that’s far from the only perk. Once you get into the swing of things, morning sessions are often easier to stick to regularly, as it’s far less likely you’ll have a diary clash or any other reason to skip it. 

Some studies even suggest early exercise can train your circadian rhythm, helping you naturally wake up earlier and more refreshed while supporting better, deeper sleep. Plus, you'll notice you have more consistent energy released throughout the day afterwards.

Best of all, morning workouts really do get easier over time. You’re either caught in a vicious or virtuous cycle.

If you’re getting up early, working hard on your health, and feeling great afterwards, you’ll sleep better, feel better and will be more likely to do it again the next day. And the next. It gets easier and easier the more you do it.

Alternatively, you’re staying up late, not getting enough sleep, feeling rough every morning, and never finding time for your body. And so the vicious cycle continues.

So if you can push through the first few sessions and make them a part of your weekly schedule, then you might surprise yourself with how much more energised you feel.

Need any help figuring out what your workouts should include? Get in touch with Another Round to start your journey.