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If it isn’t easy, I probably won’t do it.  One of the hardest things for me to do is get to the gym in the morning.  I always know I will feel great afterward but getting there is just so hard.  I’m not a morning person.  In order for me to successfully make it to the gym in the mornings, I have to make getting to it easier.  Here are a few tips for easier morning workouts.

Prep the Night Before

Prep everything you will need in the morning the night before.  First, pack your gym bag with everything you will need the next day including a change of clothes and toiletries for freshening up.  For a good list of what you might need see Gym Bag Essentials.  Next, lay out your workout clothes including your socks and shoes and even a hair band if you need one.  Finally, and this may seem unnecessary, but lay out your toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, deodorant, etc. The goal is to make your morning so easy that it takes no effort to get ready and get going.  If everything is laid out for you when you wake up, there is almost no excuse to not get it done.

Get Adequate Sleep

This should be a no-brainer but if you don’t get decent sleep, chances are you will not be working out the next day.  Make sure you get plenty of sleep so you are well-rested and can easily get out of bed in the morning.  I fail miserably at this.  I have never slept well even when I do go to bed at a decent time.  Now, with a toddler, I find the only time I can get anything done is after she goes to bed at night so then I am up late playing catch up.  Because of this, it is all the more important that things are as easy as possible when I wake up.

Don’t Hit the Snooze Button

While sleep is very important, it is just as important to not hit the snooze button in the morning.  It has been proven that going to sleep for just a few minutes more can make you more tired than just getting out of bed when the alarm goes off.  I can attest to that fact.  I have frequently hit the snooze button or even gotten out of bed and then laid back down for just a few more minutes and I feel like death warmed up the rest of the day almost every time.  Do yourself a favor and skip the snooze button.  Your body will thank you.

Brush Your Teeth First Thing

Finally, and this will seem like a silly tip, but brush your teeth the minute you crawl out of bed.  There is something very energizing and refreshing about it.  I have found that the sooner I brush my teeth upon waking, the better and more awake I feel.  If you do this first, everything else will seem a little easier.  Try it.  I promise it works.

Commit

If you take the steps above and fit them to your personality and your schedule, you can make your morning workouts easier and ensure you get your exercise in.  If you don’t go to the gym to workout, the above still applies.  You may have an even easier time since you don’t have to pack up your car or go very far from your house.  The only change I would make is to skip packing your gym bag as these items are primarily for when you are done working out and the problem you are trying to solve has to do with actually getting to the workout.  However, if you want to make your life easier as well, lay out your change of clothes and other items you might need for when you are done.