6 Practical Tips To Make Your Early Morning Run Easier

We all know how hard it is to wake up early in the morning. You know those inner voices in your head that tell you to just stay in bed or to hit that snooze button.

I know the struggle is real. But I also know how great a morning run/workout makes me feel once I’ve done it. Personally I feel that having a good morning routine that includes some form of exercise is a great way to start your day. Not only does it drive up your serotonin (or happy hormone) levels, it also motivates you and keeps your mind alert and ready to take on the day.

The benefits outweigh the cons so for those who keep telling yourself you’re not morning people or aren’t the cardio rodeos, stop giving yourself excuses.

Here are my six practical – and I mean practical – tips to make your morning run/workout a lot easier:

(1) Prep your running attire the night before and place it beside you – if possible, wear it to sleep. This includes all the added “barang” (i.e. miscellaneous items) like your face mask and earphones. The last thing you want to do the next morning is waste your time searching for them;

(2) Place a bottle of water by your bedside. When the 1st alarm rings the next morning, grab it and down it. Water rehydrates the body and awakens the senses;

(3) Search for a podcast or fun playlist the night before so you can look forward to it on your run the next morning. Knowing you have something to look forward to during your run can give you that added push;

(4) March straight to the bathroom once you wake up. Immediately wash your face and brush your teeth. The surge of freshness automatically perks you up and keeps you moving;

(5) Once you’ve made it out of the house, BE KIND TO YOURSELF. Pat yourself on the back for making it this far. But wait, the urge to go back in is still imminent and real. Pace yourself. Start by walking briskly to get the blood flowing and gradually increase your speed each minute until you’re at a steady pace. This way you do not shock your body into overdrive and end up tiring yourself faster than you should;

And finally (6) Stick with it! Morning runs/workouts aren’t always going to feel magical. In fact, it might seem like the worst idea you’ve ever had. But stick with it long enough until  your body and mind get used to it. After that, it’ll be auto-pilot and you’ll thank yourself for adopting this new habit in the first place.

Remember, stop giving yourself excuses. Know that after your morning run/workout, you’ll thank yourself when you get back. You’ll probably even say to yourself in the shower – and do a cold one…it’s awesome after a sweaty workout (and it burns calories too) – that wasn’t so hard, right?

By then, you would be feeling so much fresher, alert and ready for the day.

And if you keep at it, you’ll even start seeing yourself shed the pounds and getting the nice svelte body you’ve always dreamed of.