Working out at 5AM is hard, but it is so incredibly rewarding and worth it.
As a working mom, I really struggled during my first year postpartum to find a perfect time to workout. In an ideal world I would work out over my lunch break at work, but I’ve just never been able to get away from my desk long enough during the work day. Before having my daughter I loved working out after work. I’d meet up with friends, attend spin classes at 7PM, and de-stress through my evening workouts. As a mom, the only thing I want to do after work is relax. I want to spend time with my daughter, husband, and friends.
My only option at this point in my life is to work out in the morning. It’s hard, but now that I’m in a routine, I love starting my day with a workout. It has taken me time to figure out how to make it work, so today I wanted to share 6 tips for making 5AM workouts work.
- Find a workout that you can’t afford to miss. Maybe it’s just me, but if I can get out of a workout, especially when my alarm goes off at 4:15AM, I will. It’s just too easy to justify sleeping in and missing my workout. If you find a workout you can’t afford to miss, you will get your butt out of bed. Whether it’s signing up for a gym class that you’ll be penalized financially for missing or teaming up with a friend who counts on you to be there, find a workout you can’t afford to miss.
- Sleep in your workout clothes! Some may think this is weird, but trust me, it’s makes the mornings way easier. I sleep in my sports bra, tights, and workout shirt. I then set my shoes and socks right by the door the night before, that way all I have to do is put on my shoes after I put in my contacts and brush my teeth.
- Set out your water bottle, keys, and wallet. There’s nothing worse that scrambling to find things at 4:30AM. Set it out before you go to bed. You may even want to lay out your work clothes, pack your lunch, and prepare your work bag. It just makes your post workout easier.
- Go to bed early. I’ve gone to bed at 11:30PM and still made my workout, but it is TOUGH!! I do much better first thing in the morning and during my workouts when I go to bed at a reasonable time. I’ve learned not to make it harder on myself.
- Be realistic with your alarm. I know that I have to be out of the house by 4:45AM in order to make it to my 5AM gym class. I set my alarm for 4:15AM, giving myself a 15 minute snooze cushion in case it’s a bad morning. I try my hardest not to snooze, but sometimes it just happens. If I’m out of bed by 4:30AM, I’ll leave the house by 4:45AM with no problems.
- Push yourself. You got up early and you’re working out at 5AM, make it worth it! Push yourself and have fun. Trust me, you won’t regret waking up so early after your workout is done.
Once you’re in a routine, working out before work can be a lot of fun. You’ll develop a community and will look forward to seeing new friends at the gym. I personally struggle to do at home workouts at 5AM because there’s no consequence for missing my workout. My friends who work out at home recommend finding a program that you can follow. Whether it’s a workout dvd, fitness program from an online trainer, or a workout you and a few friends can do together virtually. They recommend finding a set program that motivates you to get out of bed.
I hope these tips help. Moving into our new house will make things interesting since it’s further from my current gym, but I want to make it work. I think it’ll just mean getting up earlier and preparing everything for the work day the night before. As long as I’m organized, I know I can continue to enjoy my 5AM workouts.
