Mornings are a strange place in our house.
When I get out of bed, I jump around like Tigger on speed.
I have TONs of energy and often wake up a few minutes before my alarm clock goes off.
My missus on the other hand HATES mornings.
All I get first thing in the morning is a grunt!
“Morning” I say, as she comes down the stairs…
“Urrghh” comes the response.
Then there is silence for the next hour until she comes round.
It wasn’t always like this.
At the start, I used to get in trouble by talking far too much in that ‘wake up hour’ and often far too loudly.
It took a while but I trained myself how to act in the morning.
I had to curb my enthusiasm for the day.
I had to approach things differently
I have to re-train my brain to act this way……if I was to keep my marriage intact.
The key thing here is that you CAN retrain yourself.
It is a case of re-training the brain.
So many people I speak to, who start to train in the mornings come through the door looking like a Zombie!
Again, I am greeted with a grunt.
And all I get from these guys and girls is that “I’m not a morning person”
Sounds like an excuse to me!
The thing is you can re-train yourself.
You CAN become a morning person.
If you want to lose weight, get fitter, improve your confidence and self-esteem, get in those clothes you wish to wear again then you need to make commitments, sacrifices and apply some will power.
If you are busy at work during the day and have a family to look after at night, then this only really leaves the mornings.
That is why my 6 am morning crew is packed out.
It is full of committed people, striving to reach their health and fitness goals.
Thing is, they can also train themselves to be MORNING PEOPLE……..and so can you!
Here are a few tips to help you strive through the morning and maybe even be alive enough to get your fitness done with enthusiasm and vigour.
#1 Start telling yourself you can
So many people tell themselves that they can’t do something.
Research tells us that this negativity plays on the mind and if we say this enough to ourselves then we actually start to believe it.
If you tell yourself that you can’t do it…..you probably never will.
However, on the flip side, those that are positive and tell themselves that they can do something and actually BELIEVE it, are much more likely to be successful.
Be a positive person and tell yourself…
“You are a morning person”
You actually have to believe it though.
#2 What is at stake?
Look at what the goal is.
What is it you are actually trying to achieve?
What is it worth?
What does it mean to you?
If the goal is worthwhile then this process of re-training will be much easier.
Just keep reminding yourself what is at stake.
#3 Get Enough Sleep
Cheers Captain Obvious. I hear you say.
We all know about the importance of sleep, what will all the exposure and coverage it now gets.
The point is…the message mustn’t be getting through as we all still seem to be content to forego sleep for reading our iPad, scanning Facebook on the phone or watching TV in bed.
The bottom line is that if you want more energy in the morning then you must rest up at night…..period!
You will have heard it all before, but you require between 7-9 hours a night. If this means you go to bed at 9 pm to get u at 5 am, then so be it.
Having adequate sleep regularly provides a huge number of health benefits, which will not only make you feel better but will also provide you with much more energy.
Sleep has also been suggested to suppress appetite and curb hunger, improve moods, make you more alert and aid your memory.
Much more at stake than-than you might think.
Why zombie walk your way through life……get your sleep.
Other useful tips
- Drink Coffee upon waking – this will obviously give you a perk and may just be enough of a kick to get you going
- Get a partner or coach to keep you accountable – give you a reason and motivation to get going…even if you don’t want to
- Set your next day up the night before – journal your next day as you prepare to get down for the night
- Do it for a month – research suggests that it takes around a month to unlearn habits and learn new ones. Stick at it.
You will be surprised at what you can achieve first thing in the morning with a little energy and drive.
I get most of my work cleared in the morning, leaving me to think and plan for the future….keeping me one step ahead of where I want to be.
Being active in the morning also allows you to get your physical activity in.
Like I said earlier, my 6 am crew love the feeling of getting up first thing, crushing their exercise and then going about their business knowing they have already kick started their healthy day.
Why don’t you try it and let me know how it goes.
Speak soon,
Gaz
