Let’s face it – mornings can be tough, whether you are getting out of bed to get a jump start on your early commute or getting the kiddos dressed for school. It is common knowledge that many people aren’t big fans of the morning, which is why getting up to go to the gym can be a challenge on its own. However, research indicates that morning exercisers are actually far more likely to stick to their routines and reach their goals faster than others. Furthermore, being motivated to sneak in a quick workout in the wee hours of the morning can also help boost your mood and lose weight, as exercising too close to your bedtime may actually hinder your sleep cycle.

Getting in the habit of exercising in the morning will help you feel much more alert and productive all day, which are just a couple of the awesome benefits of rolling out of bed before the sun is up. Because exercise jump starts your metabolism, you will actually keep burning calories all day long after a sweaty morning workout. And let’s not forget the fact that, by exercising early before work, you won’t have to worry about exercising at lunch or after work, which will free up your day for far more exciting things than working out.

So, what hacks do people who workout in the morning on a regular basis use? Let’s take a look:

• Set two alarms. This is especially recommended when first starting out, and for those who really, really don’t like getting up in the morning. The first alarm should indicate that you have 15 or 20 minutes left to sleep, which will prepare you for the next alarm, or the ‘real’ alarm. Once you are up, do whatever you have to do to slowly wake yourself up (drink coffee, meditate, listen to music) enough to head to the gym before work.

• Go to bed at a reasonable time. If you’ve always been somewhat of a night owl, it can be difficult to change up your routine and go to bed early enough to prepare yourself for getting up in the morning. Whatever morning workout routine you are aiming for, make sure you are still getting enough sleep for your body.

• Pack your gym bag the night before. Another great tip to help you get out the door and to the gym in the morning is to pack your bag the night before. Think about what class you are going to take or what exercises you plan on doing and pack accordingly. This will help you get out the door relatively quickly, as you won’t have to worry about remembering everything you need for the day when your mind is still groggy.

• Don’t keep the alarm too close to the bed. For many people, the most difficult part of working out in the morning is the physical act of getting out of bed. This is why it is recommended that you keep the alarm away from your bed. Even if it is just a couple of steps away on your dresser, the fact that you have to get out of bed in order to turn it off will start preparing your body for waking up for good.

• Turn it into a habit. Whether big or small, habits help motivate us to get things done. If you have a goal to workout three days a week before work, make it a habit. Think about the benefits you will receive by getting out of bed and to the gym instead of hitting snooze for a couple more hours.

Thankfully, Fitness Nation offers a host of classes early in the morning (5:30a.m.!) to help motivate you to get out of bed and to the gym before you start your day. To learn more about our Arlington and Bedford group gym class offerings, please do not hesitate to ask. We hope to see you at either of our locations, bright and early!