Are You Sabotaging Your Morning Workouts?

Take a look at your schedule. What have you got on today? For most of us, each day is a constant balancing act, juggling work, study, family responsibilities, appointments and social lives. Somewhere among all of that, you try to find room for a workout. It’s not always easy!

Set yourself up for success

Getting your workout done first thing in the morning is often the best solution, so that is doesn’t get pushed further and further down your priority list as the day goes on. If working out in the morning works the best for you and your lifestyle, then you probably want to make the most of that training time — getting up early to do an ineffective workout? Nobody got time for that!

These are a few ways you might be accidentally sabotaging your morning workouts:

You’re not getting enough sleep

Without a good night’s sleep, it can be hard to focus on the day ahead. You’re more likely to be grumpy and impatient, and your coordination may also suffer. Sleep is also when your muscles begin to recover, so when you’re not well-rested, you might actually be training at a lower intensity than you realise. All of these factors can make it hard to put in your best workout. Putting effort into developing healthy sleep habits can help you to sleep easier and come out firing the next day. 

You don’t pre-plan the night before

Laying everything out before you go to bed means less time scrambling to find socks, a clean sports bra or your keys. That small saving of time means you don’t have to rush your workout, and you don’t have to make any tough decisions about what you’re going to wear, or what you should eat before you get going. 

You’re not going in with a plan

If you’re heading into your morning workout with no plan, there’s a good chance it won’t be your best one. Trying to piece together your own workout can be difficult, but it can also put you at risk of overtraining. A structured workout helps you to make the most of your training time, so you won’t be wasting time trying to figure out what to do next. Having a workout plan (like the ones provided in the SWEAT app) and a consistent routine to follow can also make it easier to track your progress. Once you start to see progress, it’s easier to keep going.  

You’re not warming up

Nothing sabotages a workout quite like being underprepared. Skipping a warm-up can put you at risk of an injury, as well as reducing your ability to workout to your full potential. This is especially true for a morning workout, as your body temperature is naturally a little lower in the morning. A good warm-up prepares your nervous system, muscles and joints, increases your blood flow and gets you focused. 

You eat dinner too late

A big meal a short time before bed means that your body may still be working to digest it overnight. Because your body is busy digesting, you may have a disrupted sleep. Lack of sleep can lead to your body releasing cortisol, the stress hormone, which can cause weight gain. Plus, a disrupted sleep can leave you feeling groggy in the morning, so you might be more likely to hit the snooze button. Try to eat dinner a few hours before bed to give your body plenty of time for digestion. 

Start working out more efficiently now!

Hopefully, these tips help you to enjoy a morning workout  — one with less stress and more time to focus on what you want to achieve. Don’t forget, you can always turn to the SWEAT forum if you want some tips on setting a morning routine or quick breakfast ideas.

Best of luck!