Well, hello spring!
Work out in the morning! What are you thinking! Are you crazy, I'm not a morning person and besides I need my sleep, plus I can't do anything until I've had my coffee.
Have you heard these excuses? Is this you? We hear them all the time and from people who actually don't exercise at all. They make excuses for all sorts of things they are going to do. They have their gym gear packed in the car and never use it, or they set their alarm for an early morning walk and click the snooze button.
We always have to wonder at what "I'm not a morning person" means. Morning happens for everyone, there is no escaping it. Do these people miss the best part of the day when the sun is rising and it's quiet outside - except for the birds? The air is fresh and clean and it feels great to be part of this city. Exercising at this time of day is fantastic, the guarantee is that you actually get it done, leaving you free to work until midnight if you're that crazy!
By exercising first thing you will feel alive and invigorated for the rest of the day. Just ask all the people who exercise first thing. On my way to work around 5.30am the streets are dotted with people out walking and early mornings at the gym are busy. It's humming with women keen to start the day. Ask any of them why they work out at this hour and they will tell you, "I have more energy during the day and when I leave work I can head straight home to my family, knowing I have done my exercise for the day."
People who exercise first thing are usually efficient users of their time, and they have a sense of accomplishment that follows them during the day, plus they start their day with a positive outlook.
Naturally exercising first thing in the morning is not the only choice. We all have different schedules and commitments. The important thing is that we make time to take care of ourselves physically and mentally, whether that's 6am or 6pm or somewhere in between.
Some people manage to exercise regularly despite hectic schedules, family, stress, the demands of work and the change of seasons. Do these people ever go off track? Absolutely. So how do they manage to get back on it? Because without exercise they feel tired, unmotivated and stressed. Maybe like you do at the moment. They keep exercising to keep balance in their lives and they know they will feel a whole heap better after it.
Why don't you try it? Make a plan to exercise three times a week for the next month. We can hear you making groaning sounds already. Go on, draw up a plan to exercise. Either walk, run, or join us at the gym, and if you don't feel better after a month then come and tell us we've got it all wrong.
After you've finished each exercise session notice how you feel. Hot, sweaty, and pleasantly tired, but motivated and maybe quietly pleased with yourself. Keep that feeling, bottle it, and take some of it before your next session. It's addictive, share it around if you like, but save some for yourself!
