9 Reasons to Workout First Thing in the Morning

I get asked all of the time how I stay motivated & keep a consistent workout routine. I have learned a lot through trial & error over the years since going from working out once or twice a month to getting some sort of movement or workout in almost every day. My biggest advice? Workout first thing in the morning. People always try to tell me they aren’t morning people & that they can’t wake up to workout. I’ll work on a full post about how to become a morning person, because I used to not be, too. Working out in the morning has definitely helped me become more of a morning person. It has also helped me be more consistent with making my workouts a top priority. Today, I am sharing 9 reasons to workout first thing in the morning.

9 Reasons to Workout First Thing in the Morning

Below I’m sharing 9 reasons to workout first thing in the morning to help you all get motivated to set those alarms to get up & cross working out off of your to do list.

You establish a routine

Working out right when you gets up help to establish a routine. I do this both during the week & on the weekends to keep things consistent. No matter what time I get up, I start my day with some sort of movement to get my mind & body going.

You start your day with more energy

Physical activity instantly gives you more energy and helps you wake up. Waking up with a workout rather is a great, positive way to to feel like you have more energy. Even when I was waking up at 5AM to workout, it would still someone make me feel like I had more energy. Working out gives you an energy boost, so if you do it first thing in the morning it’s working in your favor rather than making you more awake at night when it’s time to wind down.

You’ll begin your day in a better mood

Exercise releases endorphins which help elevate your mood. When you start your day off this way, you experience those endorphins throughout the day & can build on them. You’ve heard the saying about someone waking up on the wrong side of the bed, right? Working out first thing is like ensuring that you’re beginning your day right each time.

You’re being preventative, not reactionary

If you have worked out first thing in the morning, you’re setting your mind up to prevent stress throughout the day rather than working out in the afternoon in reaction to the day’s stress. I always think that being preventative versus reactionary is the better option.

You are more likely to make good choices

If you start your day on a good note with working out, you’ll be more likely to make healthy choices throughout the day as to not ‘sabotage’ the hard work you put in. There are also studies that show that if you work out first thing, you are more likely to be active throughout the rest of your day.

There are no excuses

Things can pop up throughout the day. Perhaps a night out with friends, a crisis at work, or an errand that takes longer than you thought. These are all things that can make your workout get pushed or not happen at all. If you work out first thing in the morning & that is the only reason you are getting up at that time, then there is nothing standing in your way to get the work out done then.

You’ll feel more accomplished

Starting your day with something productive & just for you allows you to start crossing things off of your to-do list first thing. This gives you a sense of accomplishment & sets you up for a more productive day. The sense of accomplishment first thing is the same reason I make my bed right when I get up. When you start your day on the right foot, it helps you get more done throughout the day.

There are less distractions

If you work out first thing in the morning, many people are still sleeping or just getting up, so you’re less likely to have your phone buzzing with messages or notifications. Working out is my time to myself, so when I’m doing it I don’t stop & answer any messages or do anything in between. Everything can wait until my workout is over. I’ve found that this is much easier to do when it’s first thing in the morning.

You’ll burn more fat

Getting movement in first thing in the morning after you’ve fasted all night will help you burn the carbohydrates & sugars that are stored up. Once you are done burning that, you will burn fat. Exercising in the morning burns more fat than it does later in the day. This is because you have less carbs & sugars accessible to burn first thing in the morning.

A few of my favorite workouts are Melissa Wood Health & Megan Roup’s The Sculpt Society. I generally work out at home using my at home gym equipment. I also like to go for walks outside or run using the Couch 2 5k app. I just started P.Volve last week, so I’ll provide a review of that soon when I’ve tried more of the workouts!