I know not everyone is a morning person, before I got into my fitness regime I struggled to get out of bed for 8am let alone getting up when the alarm went off at 4:30 or 5am! So when our lives are so busy, it seems like an impossible feat to try to get up for work, let alone trying to get a workout in before hand too!

Now I know everyone has heard of the usual tips & tricks for getting up earlier, but I wanted to share my hacks to getting up early, I even asked my fellow Instagrammers for their tips too so I can share all the secrets to getting up early and smashing that workout!

Now why should you workout in the morning? Well let me tell you.. It is a fantastic way to start your day. Not only does it get your endorphins going, you feel great afterwards (when did you last regret a workout?!), you feel accomplished, your workout is done and dusted for the day, and it just sets the tone for the whole day. 

I always feel mentally better after working out before work, I feel driven and focused, and it feels great to get my body moving at the start of my day. The other reason I love working out in the morning, is the hard workouts are done before my brain even registers what’s happening and it’s over before I have even woken up! (Running; I am looking at you!)

13 hacks for getting up & working out early 

1. Programme your favourite exercises – @hannah_powley says that by programming your favourite exercises you will have something to look forward too. This includes workout classes and videos! By finding something you enjoy it makes it so much easier to get up in the mornings.
2. Establish a bedtime routine – Get in bed at a sensible time, set those alarms, put your phone on ‘do not disturb’ – whatever you need to do, make it your routine and stick to it! For me I try to be asleep by 9pm, I whack a scary podcast on, take my supplements & meds and that’s it, sleep time until that alarm buzzes in the morning. Don’t have a netflix binge all night if your alarm is going to be screaming at 5am, it just won’t happen.
3. Just do it – @bobby.artist says just do it because at the end of the day it is a choice. You have your reasons to want to workout so by not getting up in the morning you will only be letting your goals stay unaccomplished.
4. Keep your alarm on the other side of the room! – Having your alarm on the other side of the room means you have to get up and turn it off! You cannot press snooze. Once that alarm goes off, get up and go! If you struggle with this I highly suggest or setting an alarm 10 minutes prior so you can trick your brain into thinking your getting a cheeky 10 minute snooze!
5. Wake up light – If alarm clocks don’t float your boat, try a Wake Up Light. I recently purchased a Lumie Light and it was the best thing I have done this year. The gradual ‘sunshine’ wakes me up before my alarm and it feels like waking up naturally in the summer. It definitely beats the panic wake up I have when that alarm rings on my phone when I am in deep sleep!
6. Prep your clothes – We have all heard this hack but packing your gym bag the night before and laying out clothes makes it so much easier to get ready and go!
7. Don’t do it alone! – Making plans to workout with friends or family members means you are less likely to cancel on them for some extra sleep. Get the gang together and make working out a group thing (or at least grab a buddy!) They will not be happy if your in bed snoozing whilst they are stood in the gym car park waiting!
8. Own your day – Smashing your workout in the morning means no matter how the day goes after, you have completed at least one amazing thing which does actually set your day up for a more positive start. It all boils down to the fact that there is no better way to start your day than knowing you have done something amazing for yourself.
9. Give yourself something tasty to look forward too – Look forward to a tasty breakfast or post-workout shake. Planning something you enjoy for either the workout or post workout is a great way to reward yourself for getting out of bed. What about making some delicious protein brownies to eat on the way?
10. Think about how you will feel afterwards – Let’s be real, when don’t you feel good after a workout?! I mean unless you fall over and injure yourself.. Ignore that possibility and get those endorphins racing and that feel-good factor going!
11. Make it a habit – Make your workout part of your routine, just like brushing your teeth in the morning! Who skips brushing their pearly whites?! The more you do it, the more it will seem like the norm and the easier it will be to just do it without thinking!
12. Sleep in your Gym Stuff – @hollyjamesonart. Sleeping in your gym kit makes it so much easier to get up and go in the mornings and means less time trying to scramble around getting dressed!
13. Grab protein snacks on the go – Protein is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in our health. It helps build and repair muscles, supports the immune system, and aids in digestion. Protein is also a critical part of a healthy diet, providing us with the energy to stay active and maintain a healthy weight. Given all of these benefits, it’s no wonder that people are looking for convenient ways like a Protein Snack to get their protein fix. And that’s where protein snacks come in. There are now plenty of great options available for those who want to grab a quick and easy snack that will help them meet their daily protein needs.
14. Remember Life Happens – If you miss a workout, or your ‘alarm never went off’ don’t beat yourself up. Accept what happens and just reschedule it and try again.

Any tips you’d like to share for how you manage to wake up for early morning workouts?