7 Tips To Help You Wake Up Early (Another Fitness Boot Camp Story)

(Even if you aren’t getting up for a fitness boot camp, you might find some great ideas for your morning routine in this article.)

The last two mornings it’s been incredibly hard to wake up at 4:35am for boot camp. A rather commanding voice inside my body has tried to persuade me to just get back into bed, but I know I just have to get myself going and I’ll be okay.

Truly, I’m not always thrilled to wake up for my New Orleans boot camp, but I am DEFINITELY always glad I did!

Those first 15 minutes are the hardest, and I’m super grateful I have a morning routine that guides me out the door.

Here are some things I do that might help you get going on the mornings where you really just want to stay in bed:

1. I set out my clothes ahead of time AND I put my alarm clock (cell phone) right on top of the pile. That way when the alarm goes off, I actually am already at my clothes when I turn it off. All I have to do is get dressed, and falling back into bed is a lot less likely.

2. I remind myself why I’m doing this: Because I feel so much stronger and healthier, and I can see the results in the mirror. Because it makes me feel so ALIVE, like I’m really living each day to the fullest, when I begin my day with such an intense workout. Making it meaningful in this way really helps.

3. Right away I hydrate, drinking probably half a litre or more of pure water. Not coffee. This gives my body a jump start and also allows the water to go through me before I get to camp. After I get that first big drink down, I sip water through the rest of the morning. If I’m not hydrated, my body refuses to work nearly as well. This morning I actually drank a bit of coconut water on my way to the park, and the electrolytes and potassium in that seemed to give me even more of a boost.

4. The last few mornings I’ve started putting Rosemary essential oil on my feet. Both the oil and the mini foot massage I give myself while applying it help my body to wake up. Rosemary is good for so many things – you can check out this article for more about the Healing Powers of Rosemary.

5. I do a short yoga practice before I leave home. It ranges anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on how much time I have, and I consider this an essential part of my morning. It gets my circulation going – my body moving and breathing in a gentle way, and then I’m more prepared to go full out when I get to boot camp. I stretch all the major muscle groups, especially my hamstrings, quads and hip flexors, shoulders, chest, and back – all in alignment and with my breath. For an example of a mini yoga practice, check out this Short Yoga Practice Video.

6. I have all my stuff ready to go – water bottle already filled, apple washed and packed for after my workout, and my weights, towel, and mat in my pack ready to go. All I have to do is put on my shoes, grab my gear and walk out the door.

7. Once I’m in the car, I turn up the music. I listen to something that gets me going, even something I want to sing or dance to.

By the time I arrive at boot camp I’m awake.

Maybe not as awake as I’ll be in 5 minutes when my body temperature rises because I’m already working hard, but I’m definitely not thinking about bed any more.

It’s funny, the last two mornings have been super thick with fog, and it’s felt like New Orleans didn’t want to wake up either. But there I am in the early morning, sweating and working as hard as I can.

And then the birds start chirping and flying overhead. The trees are all wise looking in the fog. The sky gets lighter in its shades of blue. And today, there was even a sliver of the crescent moon glowing above the Crescent City.

When you’re surrounded with that kind of beauty, pushing your edge and getting stronger all the while, you get to a point where you thank yourself for getting out of bed. Because it is SO worth it!

Check out this article to read about the upcoming Yoga Fitness Boot Camp in Kamloops, BC.

• Do you have any tips to help me wake up more easily? Please leave a comment below and share!