Why You Should Go to The Gym First Thing In the Morning
The early bird gets the worm.
You wake up at 8 am and check your Instagram. Jocko Willink has a new post. It’s just a picture of his watch that digitally shows “4:30”.
That’s 4:30 am (by the way). How on earth do people do it?
I’ve been going to the gym for 16 years, and I NEVER used to go before work. Waking up when I didn’t have to was laughable to me. I would just stop by the gym on the way home, no problem… Or so I thought.
Many of us gain responsibilities as we get older. We get married, we have kids. Life no longer revolves around our schedule. No one is going to wait to eat dinner because we need to lift. Life hits us in the face and unexpected responsibilities come out of nowhere.
Begin your day while the world is still sleeping.
Nothing unexpected can arise when everyone is still asleep. No one can send you an urgent email, no one can ask you to jump their car. Life throws a wrench in your plans. This is why you should go to the gym before it has a chance to.
This is your sacred hour.
Change your mindset from “have to” to “get to”.
- I get to have an hour to myself.
- I get to focus only on myself.
- I get to have this sacred hour before the chaos of the world begins.
- I get to focus on self-improvement without being bothered.
My Morning Routine
10 pm (the night before) - Go to bed
6 am - Wake up
6:15 am - Put on workout gear/shoes, take vitamins
6:20 am - Find an inspirational podcast
6:22 am - WALK to the Gym
6:30 am - Review workout and walk out to the gym floor
6:35–7:35 am - Workout
7:35–7:50 am - Sauna/Steam Room
8 am - Walk back home from the gym
9 am - Arrive at Work
Key things to note here:
- I always try to get 8 hours of sleep. I find that anything less affects my performance.
- Find a gym that is very close to you! This is not only convenient, but it helps you warm up by getting your step count up. I found one so close that I can actually walk there.
- Have a plan. There is no time to waste in the morning. Every minute counts. Know what your workout plan is before you step out the door.
- The sauna and steam room are game-changers. You feel like a newborn baby after a nice hot session. Get a gym that has these, if possible.
- Allow yourself time for breakfast AFTER the workout. Don’t eat before the session.
Set the tone for the day by getting a headstart. You won’t regret it.
