If you’re like me, it’s easy to wake up and shuffle around aimlessly. Before you know it, an hour has gone by and there isn’t time to exercise. I’ll hit the gym after work. Somehow the day gets too busy for that. Maybe tomorrow. Yeah, tomorrow I’ll do it! Some days you might actually wake up clear-headed and fit in that gym time, but most days are the same and pass you by. How does this keep happening?
With minimal effort beforehand, you can greatly increase the odds of implementing a consistent workout routine.
Relying on a groggy morning brain isn’t the way to go. Here are a few easy hacks to set yourself up for success.
Prepping for Ironman Santa Rosa
1. Lay out your workout clothes and gear the night before.
Before bed, neatly lay out your running shoes, bike gear, or gym clothes by your bedside. Not only does this save you time in the morning, it will help you sleep easier knowing it’s one less thing to worry about in the morning. When you wake up, it’s one less decision to make as you clear away the cobwebs of a sleepy brain.
2. Schedule your workouts a week in advance.
Use a paper notebook or an app like Training Peaks to specify what you’ll be doing each day, including planned rest days. This minimizes decisions you’ll have to make during the week. It also prevents you wasting time and trying to make it up as you go. Sometimes this is fun, but make it the exception and not the rule. When I show up to swim, lift, or bike without a plan beforehand the workout is usually at the mercy of my mood. It’s much easier to sell myself short and limit my progression.
3. Get up early
Jocko Willink is notorious for his daily 4:30am wristwatch pictures on Instagram. The pictures come along with some hard-ass Navy SEAL quote like “fix bayonets!” You don’t have to get up that early, but that early wake up call gives you the freedom to fit in a good workout before everyone else has started their day. “But I’ll be to tired!” your mind is protesting. Okay, so offset that by going to sleep that much earlier. What are you doing late at night anyways? Dicking around on Facebook?
Jocko’s infamous reveille shot.
From thinking to Automating
These steps are simple, but not always easy. With some intention it gets easier. After three weeks of consistency this becomes habit. Habits are easy because they take less brain power. They are automatic. To set yourself up for success, try forming one habit at a time. Start with consistent morning exercise and see how your days improve.