Exercising First Thing – Why I’m Doing It!
I’ve tried exercising at different times of day: morning, afternoon, and evening. It seems that with growing children, my schedule is every changing and growing too.
I put off exercising first thing in the morning for a long time because I was just too tired to do it! But with the new sleep I’m getting (yay for sleep), I’ve been able to start rising earlier than my family and workout before anyone wakes up.
I'm finding it has great benefits!
Why do I do this? What are the benefits?
It makes me a nicer person.
For real.
If I workout in the morning I am happier, more energetic, and more relaxed.
In fact, I’ve noticed a serious difference in my demeanor if I don’t start the day this way.
Working out first thing helps me eat better too.
I’m less tempted by bad food and naturally crave healthier meals when I’ve exercised.
Working out first thing gets the big, bad job done and out of the way.
Have you ever procrastinated when is comes to exercising? I think most of us have.
I find if I put it off in the morning, it won't get done.
Waiting for a time to exercise later in the day often leaves me irritable because there are so many interruptions and general life situations that arise.
This is still a newish habit I’m striving to cement in place. The only way to make it a habit is to just do it!
That means exercising when I feel like it and also when I don’t. Not the easiest thing to do, that’s for sure. But I think the benefits are worth the effort.
Have you tried exercising first thing in the morning? What is the one big, bad thing you like to get out of the way each day?
I'm linking up the Homemaker's Challenge.
YES! YES! YES!!!
Couldn’t agree with you more!
Clare
Thanks Clare! I appreciate your support 🙂
I go back and forth between early and late. In the end, I prefer later better. Rick always gives me the time, and I can’t do my Bible study, get the workout in, and get ready for school in the time remaining. I do feel good when I workout in the morning though. Glad you are getting more sleep!
It’s great that your hubby gives you the time to workout when you like. Yay for him 🙂
Oh-and thanks for linking up!!
I envy your motivation. So far, I haven’t found the desire to exercise or get up a little earlier, and putting them together, well, that’s about the worst thing I can imagine lol It’s something I *need* to do, but don’t really *want* to do. Maybe I will catch some of your motivation 🙂 Congratulations on a successful first week.
Thanks Melanie.
Sometimes I’m motivated and sometimes I’m not. But I;m learning more and more to just do it. It’s hard though!
I exercise first thing in the morning. I am soooooo not a morning person, so getting a yuck job done early, when I’m not in a jolly mood, seems to work for me. Plus, as you said, it’s easier to put it off if you don’t get it out of the way early. At least, I think you said that. *grin*
Thanks Amy. Yes, you got it right, if I don’t get exercising out of the way early, it’s easier to put it off.
It seems like a good idea to do something you don’t like when you are not in the jolliest of moods. Better than doing something you don’t like when you are in a good mood 🙂
I like exercising first thing, too. Okay, well I don’t love doing it, but it really is better when I do–for the very reasons you put together in helpful post! So, I hit the treadmill early, and I intend to keep doing this. It just feels good to have it done, and it’s a great jumpstart to the day.
And yay for good sleep!
Susan
I agree, it feels god to have the exercise done and out of the way.
Sometime I’d like to hear about how you made time for exercise when your kids were little 🙂 I know you are an active person, so I’d love to know how you stayed fit with young ones around.
My Little has been letting me get more sleep too. Hurray for sleep!!!! (Fingers are crossed because I swear, every time I make all these plans about what I am going to do in the morning, we have a really rough night, I end up with about 1 1/2 hours of sleep and I no longer care about the grandiose plans I had previously!) I have been getting up to make the hubs breakfast and get him on his way, excercise, and have quiet time. When I do, I feel so much better! As you said, I’m a nicer person when I’ve excercised. I’m a better wife, mother, doggie mommie, you name it! Keep up the good work, mama! Posts like this are good for me to know that though other mothers are struggling, they are also getting it done. So thanks!
Thanks Amber! I’m glad you are getting more sleep too. It makes a world of difference, doesn’t it?
Keep up the good work 🙂
I completely agree with you!
Thanks Linda.