What I have to do to get up at 5:15am to workout

I used to be a night owl. And I always worked out after work. I loved working out in the afternoon - I have energy and my body is ready to burn calories (I still do!). But then I became a mom. And my whole world changed, especially my routine and schedule (I see you moms nodding in agreement).

After struggling to fit my workouts in between work and my responsbilities as a mom, I realized my kids schedules would always come first, so I had to be the one to change. I slowly changed from working out in the afternoon to early morning. It was a slow process (I started getting up earlier just once a week) but now I get up at 5:15am most days (yes 5:15, not 5 or 5:30…every minute counts when it comes to sleep!) and I start my day with some time with the Lord. Then I exercise.

But it’s HARD getting up early. It’s hard to be motivated that early in the morning. The ONE thing I have to do to make sure I’m ready to exercise that early and a surefire way for me not to skip the workout is this….DUN DUN DUNNNNN…..drum roll please…..

…Going to bed DRESSED in my workout clothes. Yup. That’s it.

If I don’t do this, I will not (I repeat) I will not workout. Going to bed dressed in my workout clothes is one less thing for me to do in the morning. As my cousin told me (she gave me the tip!), there’s less doing and more moving. I leave my water bottle in the fridge the night before ready and filled with water, and sneakers are laid out. I’m already dressed for working out. All I have to do is get up. Some days I give in to the enemy telling me I don’t have to. But most times, if I get to bed on time and I’m dressed for the workout, then I wake up, pray and move!

The key though, is going to bed on time. I need 7 hours of sleep to be able to get up and exercise and do life the next day. So I know the LATEST I can go to bed is 10:00pm. And I don’t give myself extra time on the alarm clock because I know I’ll just hit snooze. I set it to the very last minute that I have to get up.

So how about you? Do you get up early to exercise, and if you do, what helps you from skipping your workout? Let me know in the comments!