Getting out of bed can certainly be a struggle for all of us. There are mornings where the thought of getting out of bed while it’s still dark out and heading to the gym can not only be daunting, but downright unappealing.
We all do it. You set your alarm the night before, excited for the idea of how healthy and productive you’re going to be, only to have your alarm go off several hours later and the enthusiasm is quickly replaced by “just five more minutes…” Before you know it, you’ve slept away your workout time, and have resigned to giving it another go some other time.
Sound familiar? Here are five tips to get you out of bed, and hey, maybe even excited, to tackle that workout.
Put your alarm clock across the room
Why? It makes you get out of your blanket cocoon to turn off the annoying beeping. At this point, you’re significantly less likely to hit the snooze button and crawl back into bed because you’re already up.
Have your gym bag packed
Why? If you’re anything like me, you’re a zombie before 7am. Prepare everything you need the night before so you don’t risk forgetting something imperative to your workout. I’ve gotten all the way to the gym before realizing I didn’t bring any athletic shoes with me. I was out of bed, dressed and I couldn’t even workout. What a waste! Needless to say, packing when I’m more aware of what’s going on (think post-caffeine or in the PM hours) I know I’ll have everything ready without having to think about it in the morning.
Pop a mint!
Why? Yes, it sounds a little odd, but the smell and taste of peppermint has been clinically shown to stimulate brain function, precisely what you want to do to get yourself out of bed. Remember, eating a mint is not a replacement for brushing your teeth. On behalf of everyone, please still brush your teeth.
Have a workout buddy
Why? Whether it’s one of our lovely trainers or just a friend, knowing someone is expecting you to be at the gym with them is one of the best ways to get out of bed. It is much easier to justify a missed workout to ourselves than to someone else. Being held accountable will certainly get you up and ready to workout.
Stop looking at facebook before bed
Why? The blue light waves emitted by electronics (laptop, phone, tablet, TV, etc) have been noted for stimulating brain activity and interfering with melatonin-a brain chemical that helps with sleep-levels. Looking at anything with a screen up to an hour before bed can actually make it harder to fall asleep. So, turn off Orange is the New Black an hour before bed if you want to get some quality shut eye!