How to Wake Up Early for a Workout

I have become one of those obnoxious people that wakes up before the crack of dawn to work out. It is my new thing, but I have stuck with it for about a month and half, and I love it. I know it’s a little extreme, but it works for us and our schedule. And honestly, I’m so tired by the time the boys go to bed at night, that I don’t mind going to bed early. Here’s the deal. I like “me” time. I am a much nicer person (aka mom) if I have some me time before my boys are up. I used to strive to wake up early enough to have a cup of coffee and sit and work on my blog or something before they got out of bed. But, I would either push snooze, or get distracted by a chore around the house, and therefore me time turned into stay-at-home-mom time, which led to a bad mood. The advantages of this new routine far outweigh the disadvantage of waking up early. I get my workout in before life can get in the way. I start the day sweating, burning calories, and receive the benefit of all of those feel-good endorphins. Bye bye, bad mood. And, it’s me time. Today I slept in until almost 6, and I was the hottest mess. Lesson learned!!! I did go to Burn at 9:30, but I should’ve gone first thing to start my day off happier. 

Every time I post on my instagram story about waking up at 4 to go to Burn boot camp, I receive questions about how I manage to get up so early. I started keeping list of tips and tricks for how to wake up early for a workout. I hope these are helpful to you all! If you have any other ideas, please feel free to leave them in the comments!

• Set a goal. Write it down. Post it on your mirror. Whatever you need to do to help fire you up! My goal is to exercise at least 5 times a week, and 4 of those times at Burn.
• Pay attention to the benefits of exercise. I am a much more calm mom on the days that I start with a sweat session. The mental benefits alone make it worth it.
• Go to bed early, like grandma status early. I do my best to be in bed by 9 and asleep by 9:30.
• Pick a workout that you look forward to.
• Go all in when you start your workout. Starting your day sweating is worth it. It will give your body continual energy throughout the day.
• Have an accountability partner. Or share it on instagram. Or work out with the same group each day. At Burn I am there with most of the same women who also work out at 5. And the trainers know our names, which really helps keep us accountable and motivated.
• Drink plenty of water – dehydration is exhausting and so easy to fix. I aim for a gallon a day. This is my go-to water bottle. I don’t always love my water to be ice-cold, but if I did, I would use this one in white.
• Fuel your body with healthy food. A good balance of carbs, fat, and protein. Plenty of greens. Not too much sugar.
• Lay your clothes out before you go to bed.
• Fill up your water bottle the night before.
• Have the coffee ready, so you just have to push the button after you roll out of bed. I usually have a few sips on the way to Burn.
• Take supplements to help with energy levels. Many of these have other benefits as well, but they are good for energy, mood balance, and stress response. I always put maca powder in my smoothies, and there is MCT oil in the collagen protein powder I use. You could also just use this brain octane oil in your coffee. The protein powder is a good way to re-fuel your body after working out so hard. I also take an ashwaghanda supplement, and my girlfriend recommended rhodiola as well.
• Make sure your spouse is supportive. I wake up at 4, before anyone else in my house is awake. Todd usually wakes up by 5, works out in our garage (we have a pull-up bar, some weights, etc), then showers and starts working on the boys’ lunches. He also helps get them ready for school so that I can shower when I get home at 6. I wouldn’t be able to do this each day if he didn’t help me. Your spouse doesn’t have to wake up when you do, but he/she does need to be supportive!
• Download a podcast or a good playlist on your phone that you will look forward to listening to on the way to the gym.
• Try to get your “chores” done during the day so that you won’t have as much on your to-do list at night. When i work out early, I get that Energizer Bunny feeling, which helps get more done while Davis is in school in the mornings.
• Rest for a little while in the afternoon. Both of my boys are home from school by 1:30 (Ridge is only in school 3 days), and while they rest/nap, I sit for 30-45 minutes. I will watch a show, read blogs, just veg for a bit.
• Take a before picture. Watch your body change as you build muscle and tone up.
• Because it makes you feel really good to do something that makes you feel like you can accomplish more than you thought you could.
• The more you do this, the more your body will get used to it.

super sweaty after a workout.

I hope this was helpful! Thank you for reading!