How to start an early morning exercise routine

Last Spring, I switched my time-of-day routine from night to day. I know we are new friends, so here’s a background of my exercise routine and a couple quirks about me.

For almost four years, I was an after work exerciser. I would always hit the gym, yoga studio, or the outdoors by 6 p.m. All day I would think about what exercise I wanted to do that night, make sure I left work at the same time, then crunch in a shower, dinner, TV, and get ready for the next day. Didn’t I realize how exhausting that becomes?!

I am also a creature of habit. I like routine, I like to plan! Two times I tried and failed at waking up early to exercise. I worried the night before about falling asleep, being too tired the next day, and not having a quality workout before the sun comes up. But when I finally got the hang of it, I am hooked! There are so many benefits that I have no reason to switch back. To name a few:

I love feeling that I have accomplished something before 7:30 a.m.
I literally added 2 waking hours to my day (granted, I go to sleep a little earlier).
I am more social at night. I can see friends, run errands, go out to dinner, and not be a sweaty mess!
It’s nice to drink 25 ounces of water and work up a sweat before breakfast.
I can watch the sunrise, and exercise before it gets to be 100 degrees outside!
I can spend quality time with my puppy and husband at night, not rush around the house, and cook a real dinner.
I don’t feel guilty about wanting to go home and watch TV. I’ve already exercised!
I really do have more energy and feel more awake all day long.
I eat clean all day long for two reasons–a. I need to fuel my body properly to make my workouts work best. b. I didn’t wake up at 5:32 a.m. to put crap in my body! Make it worth it!
Here are a few tips to getting the hang of a morning workout:

Lay your clothes out the night before. Water bottle and towel too.
Pick music for your ipod that literally makes you jumpy while you’re sitting there making the playlist.
Plan out your workout before you get to the gym. Nothing worse than getting there, looking at the machines, and thinking “now what do I do?”
Don’t try to go to bed earlier than you’re used to. If you aren’t tired, you probably can’t fall asleep. After a few early mornings, you’ll be tired enough!
Make plans at night so that you have to get it overwith in the morning. Otherwise, you’ll just put it off until later.
Make a buddy do it with you. Or take a class. Takes the thinking out of what to do for an hour. Just follow instructions!
Have a hearty breakfast ready for after. You’ll enjoy it more knowing you worked for it.
Which do you prefer–morning or night–and why?