If you’re a morning workout person, you know that squeezing in an early workout before work, school or other responsibilities can feel like a miracle. It’s a time to set yourself up for success, boost your metabolism, get your blood pumping and unleash some feel-good endorphins that will help carry you throughout the day. Plus, getting your exercise in the morning means it won’t get pushed out by other things.
However, if you haven’t been exercising in the mornings, it can be hard to jump on the bandwagon. Here’s why you should consider giving it a try—and the easy steps to make it happen.
Get a Head Start
To ensure you don’t miss your workout, warm-up for at least five minutes before starting your routine. Try shoulder rolls or windmills, arm circles and walking in place before increasing your heart rate with jumping jacks and butt kickers. For an added challenge, try to increase the speed and frequency of your jacks and kicks over the course of 20 minutes.
Evening workouts can easily be pushed to the side by other commitments and busy schedules, but when you get your exercise in the morning, it is done and won’t be messed with. This can help you build a good habit of regular exercise and can give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction for the rest of the day, says Harris.
Morning workouts can also be a great way to increase your fitness levels, particularly if you do a light or moderate impact exercise such as jogging or swimming. It’s important to note, however, that energy levels may be lower in the morning so you should aim for a shorter training session than you would at night if you’re trying to improve your performance.
Another thing to keep in mind is that consistency is key when it comes to building a exercise habit, regardless of what time of day you choose to sweat it out. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every day and make it a part of your everyday routine to see the most benefits.
One way to help yourself stay motivated is by enlisting a friend to join you. There’s nothing like a little competition to motivate you to get up and go! Find a buddy who wants to jump on the morning exercise train and keep each other accountable with daily check-ins.
It’s worth mentioning that research has found that people tend to do better at short-duration maximum intensity exercise (like sprinting and weight lifting) in the evening, rather than in the morning. However, overall performance is best when you stick with a consistent exercise routine, morning or evening.
Milena Estêvão is a YouTuber passionate about sharing her experiences (challenges, successes and motivations) in the fitness activities she is involved in.
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