I’ve been a bit of a health nut since I was 12 years old. I believe exercise is a form of self-love and can honestly say that my daily workout is the best part of my day. But because I never really considered myself a morning person — and because the thought of jumping out of bed when it was still dark out to sweat sounded pretty awful — I always scheduled my daily exercise for the evening. This meant trying to cram it in sometime between work and dinner, or even making it the last thing I did before hitting the sheets. That is, up until a few years ago, when I made the switch to morning workouts. Now, I’ll never go back.
My switch from evening to morning workouts was prompted by a stroke of inspiration to really commit to my health. As part of this personal crusade, I wanted to work on earnestly improving my fitness and athleticism. I didn’t want to half-heartedly jump on the elliptical for 20 minutes — I wanted to exercise with the purpose of improving my endurance and building strength. To achieve my goal, I knew I’d have to really commit to my daily workouts and make them a priority if I wanted to see the results I craved. So, despite never being a morning person, I switched to early workouts. I wanted to start each day with purpose and make exercise a priority. While groggily rolling out of bed to do burpees may not be everybody’s cup of tea, I would encourage anyone with a daily fitness routine to at least give morning workouts a shot. Here’s why.
1. You’re Putting Yourself First
It’s so easy to put others first. It’s easy to come up for air in the evening and realize you haven’t done a single thing for yourself all day. Working out is a form of self-care and a way to respect your body. Putting your workout first is a simple way to remind yourself that you’re worth prioritizing.
2. You’re Setting Yourself Up to Have a Great Day
Doing cardio isn’t always enjoyable. But you know what is? The happy endorphins that hit your system after the fact. Exercising first thing is a sure-fire way to boost your mood right off the bat and set the tone for the rest of your day.
3. You’re Holding Yourself Accountable
How many times have you had plans to hit the gym after work, only to have to cancel due to last-minute obligations? As I’ve learned, you’re much less likely to cancel your sweat session when it’s penciled in for 5 a.m. Simply switching your fitness routine from evening to morning is an easy way to hold yourself accountable. And what’s better than going the rest of the day knowing that your workout is already crossed off the to-do list?
4. You’re Encouraging a Better Night’s Sleep
Knowing that I have to get up early and be immediately active has helped me to better prioritize sleep. In fact, this has been one of the few things that has actually motivated me to go to bed at a reasonable hour. And who couldn’t use another reason to get an adequate amount of sleep?
While hopping out of bed to jump, squat, run, lift, and sweat may not sound superenjoyable, I would definitely urge anyone who wants to establish a daily fitness routine to give it a shot. Like me, you may be surprised by how much you enjoy it.