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One of the most difficult parts of maintaining a steady, daily workout schedule is motivating yourself to actually get up out of bed in the morning and hit the jogging trails or head to the gym. You likely have all of the best intentions when you go to bed at night. However, when your alarm clock rings an hour earlier than you’d like it to, it can be incredibly tempting to hit that snooze button over and over again. If you’re really determined to get yourself on a steady morning workout schedule, keep reading to discover nine helpful tips on how to motivate yourself to get up early and workout. 

1. Team Up With a Friend

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You might be willing to flake out on yourself and stay in bed in the morning when you’ve only promised yourself that you’ll head to the gym. However, you’re probably a lot less likely to skip out on your morning workout if you’ve planned to pair up with a friend of yours.

If you have a friend who likes to exercise or who shares your struggle of missing morning workouts, suggest that the two of you meet up at the gym or go for a run or bike ride together bright and early.

2. Prepare The Night Before

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Setting out everything you need for your workout the night before can be a big motivator to actually exercise once morning comes. You’ll be a lot less likely to hit the snooze button on your alarm when you know you’ll have to face the shame of putting your unused sports bra back in your drawer once you finally do wake up.

Before you go to sleep, put everything you’ll need for the gym or your morning run on the floor next to your bed. Don’t forget your workout clothes, a water bottle, and your packed gym bag. The next morning, just grab it and go. Your sleepy self with thank your past self for your proactive preparation.

3. Minimize Transportation

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If you know that a trip to the gym requires a fifteen minute drive through morning rush hour traffic, you’ll be even less motivated to get up in the morning and go. Try to pick at-home or close to home locations for your morning workouts. Complete an exercise video in your room or switch your gym membership from the gym across town to the one down the street.

4. Punish Yourself

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Okay, this might seem a little harsh, but it’s an effective way to force yourself out the door in the morning. Every time you miss your morning workout, make yourself donate five bucks to charity or complete a chore you really hate. After a while, working out won’t seem so bad in comparison.

5. Forgive Yourself

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Another important part of motivating yourself to get up and workout is forgiving yourself when you don’t succeed. If you get excessively angry at yourself when you miss your morning workout, you’ll feel so bad that you’ll be tempted to just stop trying. When you sleep through your alarm, tell yourself it’s okay and try again harder the next day.

6. Reward Yourself

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Rewards can be a powerful motivator. Every time you make it to the gym on time or complete your full workout video before it’s time to go to work, give yourself a tangible pat on the back. Is there a book you’ve been dying to buy? Do you have a favorite food that’s a bit expensive? Treat yourself when you actually get out of bed and workout; it’ll encourage you to do the same thing the next day.

7. Go to Bed Early

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Going to bed early can help you wake up earlier more easily without feeling so groggy. Make it a point to force yourself to get into bed at a reasonable hour to prevent yourself from feeling the urge to hit the snooze button on your alarm when it’s time to get up.

8. Turn On The AlarmS

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Setting several individual alarms five to ten minutes apart can help you ensure that you won’t sleep through your alarms. Also, it’s a lot more difficult to hit snooze six different times for separate alarm than just once.

9. Keep The Benefits In Mind

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Working out in the morning might feel like you’re dragging yourself to your death, but it will actually help you feel better throughout the rest of the day. Morning workouts improve your mood and make you feel more energized. Remember these benefits when you’re thinking about skipping your 8 AM aerobics class; the pain is worth i

It can be extremely frustrating when you have a plan to workout and then can’t seem to make yourself follow through when the early morning hours roll around. The next time you’re worried about letting yourself through your alarm and miss your morning workout, use the tips in this post to remind yourself how to motivate yourself to get up early and workout. 

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