Start your day off right with a quick morning workout. Doing a short 15-minute or half-hour workout before work or school can give you a boost of energy to last you into the afternoon.
Benefits of exercising in the morning
Exercising in the morning has more health benefits than the obvious ones. Besides burning calories, working out in the morning can also:
- Encourage you to eat healthier
- Boost your energy throughout the day
- Improve focus and cognition
- Put you in a better mood
- Lower your risk for diabetes
- Help you sleep better
How to change your routine
If you want to start exercising in the morning, you might have to make some lifestyle adjustments. Going to bed earlier and eating a good breakfast are two key components.
One study from the European Journal of Social Psychology found that it takes 66 days on average to establish a habit. Don’t get discouraged if you stray from your routine or have difficulty getting out of bed. Like all other regimens, establishing a morning workout routine will take time, dedication and intention.
It might help to start by doing it one or two days a week, then slowly building from that. Or, you may need to start by practicing waking up early. Give your body time to adjust to the changes you’re demanding of yourself.
Exercises for the morning
As long as you’re exercising, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing. You’ll be more likely to stick with your routine if you pick an activity you enjoy. This could be:
- Going for a walk around the block
- Doing 10 jumping jacks while your shower is heating up
- Holding a plank for 30 seconds
- Doing a quick 10-minute yoga routine
Remember, doing something is better than doing nothing. You don’t need to work out for half an hour at the gym for your morning activity to “count.”
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