Anonymous wrote:You just do it. I am in my basement working out by 5 am - when I went to the gym or workout classes I would leave by 4:45 for the 5 am slot. You don’t want to. Your body wants to sit and rest. You literally just force yourself and don’t make it an option. Eventually it becomes habit. You still don’t always want to do it but it becomes easier to just push through

Before covid, this was me: alarm at 4:45, at the gym when they opened at 5am. But I didn't start that early, it was slowly moving the clock backwards as I wanted/needed more time to get my workout in and get to work on time. So when I was in my 20s, maybe the alarm was set for 6 or 6:15 but then it was 5:50, then 5;45....I'm 46 and now that we have a Peloton and gyms don't open until 6am, I still get up at 5am to get my workout in. If I don't do it in the morning, it won't get done unless I plan on taking a yoga class in the evening. But even then, on those days I'll still do something in the morning. It's just so much a part of my habit that if I don't work out, I feel off.

So maybe you won't ever be a person who works out in the morning. But try just getting up 10/15 minutes earlier and do something minimal, even if its just a walk around the block or a quick ab workout. You may find that once you're up, you're good. The first step is the hardest. Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:You need to find an exercise you can tolerate. I used to get up at 615 and run and hated it every time. Then I tried classes but while I
Loved the idea of seeing other people, I would stress myself out trying to get there on time. Finally I got a peloton and I love it- I pick the workout the night before and can vary my routine each time. I also love it because it forces me to do something- i can always switch to a shorter class or boot camp or whatever. Find something that you don’t hate and try that.

Agree with this and I am the same -- morning runs or barre or pilates classes never worked for me because eventually the things I didn't like about these activities would become excuses for not doing it (too cold or I'm not feeling like being social or whatever). But an at home workout that I can literally roll out of bed and do before jumping directly in the shower? There just really aren't any excuses except "I don't feel like it" and I've been able to overcome that by reminding myself that I've literally never regretted doing a workout -- it always winds up feeling good.

You need to find an exercise you can tolerate. I used to get up at 615 and run and hated it every time. Then I tried classes but while I
Loved the idea of seeing other people, I would stress myself out trying to get there on time. Finally I got a peloton and I love it- I pick the workout the night before and can vary my routine each time. I also love it because it forces me to do something- i can always switch to a shorter class or boot camp or whatever. Find something that you don’t hate and try that.

Anonymous wrote:I need to have my coffee on a timer and already brewed and my workout clothes set out. The first thing I do when I wake up is put on my workout clothes and then there’s no going back.

This and also when your alarm goes off, no snooze. Get your feet on the ground so you don't fall back to sleep

Can you do things on your WOH days that better fit your schedule and needs? Do 15 minutes of tabata-style HIIT in the morning, take a brisk 30-min walk at lunch, then 30 mins of floor-based yoga or Pilates in the evening. No session is a huge time suck (waking at 4:00 to drive somewhere to work out? Puh-lease!).

Anonymous wrote:To the folks who are in bed by 8:30 -- how exactly does this work? On my in-office days, there are times I'm not even home before 6-7. Between getting kids fed, getting them to/from any afternoon/evening activities, any other chores/errands - an 8:30 bedtime is impossible. I'm 30 years into my career and have never worked in an environment where people wrap the day at 4.

I’ve always wondered this as well because I would love to go to bed early. In talking to people who do it, they either still have young kids and put them to bed early (like 7) or they don’t help with older kid evening activities. My friend who is in bed before 9 will often not see her high school age girls for more than a few minutes on weekdays.

Could you walk to work? Or bike?

Anonymous wrote:I don't do this daily but a couple times a day I work out first thing. Here's what helps me get it done:

- I work out in my pajamas. I wear clothes to bed that are conducive to working out in and then just throw on a sport bra.

- I put out my yoga mat and weights the night before so that I basically have to trip over them to leave my bedroom anyway

- I do workouts I actually enjoy. I hate leg day so I don't do that on the days I workout in the morning. I do an upper body workout or a yoga or barre class.

I also focus on my motivation for doing it in the morning which is that on these particular days if I don't workout before the kids get up then I will not have time to workout at all (these are days I have evening commitments and don't have time to workout during the day).

A couple times a *week* -- not a day!

I don't do this daily but a couple times a day I work out first thing. Here's what helps me get it done:

- I work out in my pajamas. I wear clothes to bed that are conducive to working out in and then just throw on a sport bra.

- I put out my yoga mat and weights the night before so that I basically have to trip over them to leave my bedroom anyway

- I do workouts I actually enjoy. I hate leg day so I don't do that on the days I workout in the morning. I do an upper body workout or a yoga or barre class.

I also focus on my motivation for doing it in the morning which is that on these particular days if I don't workout before the kids get up then I will not have time to workout at all (these are days I have evening commitments and don't have time to workout during the day).

This getting up at four and five seems crazy to me. I would be completely exhausted and then wouldn’t I look and feel even worse? Haggard?

I need to have my coffee on a timer and already brewed and my workout clothes set out. The first thing I do when I wake up is put on my workout clothes and then there’s no going back.

For my in office days I work out during lunch. Is there a gym in your building or nearby? Can you go for a 30 min run and take a shower and get back to your desk? It’s the only thing that works for me, I’m too tired otherwise.

I have a 3yo dog who needs exercise. I walk him an hour every morning. Makes the rest of the day better.

Assign it sufficient priority and you will find time for it.

I run at 5:30 am. On the days I don’t want to do it, I just tell myself I will run for 5 minutes and quit, but once I am out there I am glad and I do my usual 3-5 miles. Just tricking yourself to get out the door is all it takes.