Getting up early is HARD. When I first started working out in the morning, my alarm went off around 6am and I thought that was ridiculous. Actually, I started working out early because I was training for my first marathon and had no other time in the day to get my strength and runs in, so early on my way to work was my option. I would shower afterwards and head to the office. It was during this time when I came to appreciate getting sweaty in the early morning hours and feeling like I accomplished a million things before the rest of the world would get up. I would also only do this three times a week to start (M/W/F) and then find time to workout on the other days (my “sleeping in” days).

I have come to love the early morning hours. If I could go to bed earlier, I definitely would and get up even earlier. Currently, I’m awake most of the time between 5-5:30am and it’s been a more challenging adjust to get back to my routine after having the girls. Sleep feels most important and I’m sure that aging also plays a part in that. When I was still pumping, it actually seemed easier to get up early because I kinda had a time-sensitive thing to do! And since that chapter has closed, getting up early has become harder. When I have trouble getting up, I remind myself how much better I feel after I’ve worked out and that having this time to myself before the craziness begins is super important to me.

Some things that have helped me create and STICK to a morning routine:

• Consistent alarms. Both at night and in the morning. I try to go upstairs to start my bedtime routine around 9pm, knowing that I plan to wake-up by 5:30am.

• Have a nighttime routine. I used to be really good at stretching and journaling at night, but stretching has been neglected the last couple of weeks. I DO, however, use my yoga toes, journal, and read on my Kindle every night. Currently reading this.

• Lay-out your workout clothes the night before. I lay out all of my clothes for most of the week on my ‘off’ day, so I don’t have to think about what I’m going to wear in the morning.

• Have a plan. When I first started, I knew that I was going to run on the treadmill or outside for ‘x’ minutes and then do my strength routine. I think I even had the workouts written down on note cards (LOL).

• Prepping things make it easier. I have my coffee ready for the morning (1 cup before I workout), graham crackers (2) ready to eat before running/working out, and have my breakfast/lunch/snacks all ready too.

What has helped you stick with a routine? I definitely stray from my routine sometimes too and that’s OK! I think it’s important to give yourself grace and if sometimes you want to workout later in the day, then do it. I used to be very rigid in my running and workout schedule, but having kiddos has totally changed my perspective. I listen to my body more and get more sleep when it’s been a rough night of wakeups.