It’s a new year and a new decade. It’s also around this time every year you probably make the same resolutions you made last year — be happier, be healthier, eat better, drink less, etc. Unfortunately, most resolutions only last about 12 days. This doesn’t mean you have to abandon all hope, especially if you’re looking to wake up early to work out.
Being healthier, or losing weight, is always high on many people’s “new year, new me” resolution list. This can mean anything from eating less, eating healthier, or working out. The best time for a workout is in the morning. According to a professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, the body’s hormonal composition is set up to support burning more fat in the morning when you have nothing in your stomach.
We know what you’re thinking – “but I have to get ready to go to work in the mornings!” True, which is why you’ll have to learn to wake up early to work out. We say “learn” because, in order to wake up early to work out, you will need to not only want to do it but be committed to forming the habit.
Remember, most resolutions only last until Jan. 12. If you want to really form the habit of waking up to work out, it will take you 66 days. The myth used to be it only took 21 days to form a habit, but a new study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology has determined the average person needs 66 days to form that habit.
How to Wake Up Early to Work Out
Look, it’s not the easiest thing in the world to wake up early to work out. It requires dedication on your part. It’s not impossible, though. Many people start their day off in the gym or going for a run. Here are four ways to help you wake up early to workout.
Go to Bed Early
This seems like a no-brainer, right? If you’re going to wake up early to work out, you’ll probably need to go to bed earlier. Early to bed and early to rise might seem easier said than done.
There are many reasons why you might not be able to go to bed early – your work schedule could factor into the situation, as well as being a parent. Many adults go to bed early but still battle insomnia. In these cases, it’s always important to keep a sleep schedule, avoid heavy meals before going to bed, and try to avoid taking naps.
If you’re able to get to bed consistently early, the better your chances of being able to wake up early to work out.
Lay Out Your Clothes the Night Before
The easier you make things for yourself in the morning, the more likely you’ll be to wake up early to work out. If you have smart devices in your home, you can set up schedules to turn on lights, start your coffee maker, and more.
One of the easiest ways to help yourself is to lay out your clothes the night before, this means your workout clothes as well as your work clothes. In fact, it’s a good idea to go ahead and put your work clothes, toiletries (if you’re going to the gym and plan to shower there), water bottle, and towel in your gym bag. If your bag is ready to go in the morning, you are more likely to be, too.
Put Your Alarm Out of Reach
How often have you found yourself waking up late because you either hit the snooze button a dozen times or turned your alarm off while you were half asleep? It’s OK, we’ve all done it.
Of course, these things in no way will help you wake up early to work out. What’s the best solution? Move your alarm clock out of reach. In fact, if you can move your alarm to the other side of the room forcing you to get up to turn it off, you’re more likely to stay up.
If you’re set on keeping your alarm clock near you, or if you use your phone as your alarm, think about purchasing a clock or app that requires you to solve a math problem or move your phone a certain distance before the alarm turns off.
Get Plenty of Sleep on the Perfect Mattress for You
All of these helpful tips are great, but it doesn’t mean anything if you’re trying to get a restful night’s sleep on an old, lumpy mattress. If you have springs poking you in the back or side all night, you’re not going to sleep well. If you don’t get a good night’s sleep, the chances of you forming that habit of waking up early to work out are slim to none.
Maybe it’s time to add one more resolution to your list – buy a new mattress that’s best suited for you. That’s where we come in. We’re here to help you find that perfect mattress. With bedMATCHⓇ, we use science, not high-pressure sales tactics, to get you the mattress that will make it easier for you to wake up early to work out.
Come into any of our stores to try bedMATCHⓇ for yourself, or take the bedMATCHⓇ quiz online. Let us help you find the right mattress.