Getting out of bed 101

Even though we're up most days at 4:30am, even trainers find it a struggle to get out of bed from time to time. And yep, as you might have guessed, we've most definitely learned some great tips and tricks over the years that really help with getting our butts out of bed! Here are a few of our favourite tactics to help you rise and shine. 

1. Put out your clothes

Have your workout clothes all laid out and ready to go the night before. You want to use every precious drop of time in the mornings to exercise, rather than using it to try and work out which crop to wear with your new tights (as important as this is). Some of our regular #BUFgirls even sleep in their workout gear to make sure all they have to worry about is pulling on their shoes and getting out the door! 

2. Just get dressed

This is a really handy mindset. Don't think about getting up to train, just get up to get dressed. That's all, nothing else. Once you're dressed you might as well go and train right? But getting dressed is easy so it'll help when the doona is feeling like the better option. 

3. Have a good why

Why do you train? To feel great all day? To have more energy? To keep in shape? To achieve a body goal? Whatever it is, this is where you should redirect your mind when it's coming up with a thousand reasons why you really need to be sleeping in this morning. 

4. Get a training buddy

Fail proof your accountability by getting your training buddy to tweet, text, or Facebook you with something like, “see you for a sweat sesh at 6am girl!”. The whole world, all your facebook friends and followers now know you’re meant to be heading to an early workout, so good luck trying to get out of that one. Make sure you get a cheeky pic to share of your efforts! 

5. Keep your alarm out of reach

Distance yourself from your alarm. Turn up the volume and place your phone or clock on the other side of the room to your bed. This means you’ll have to actually get out of bed to turn it off, which gets you out of bed and makes you a LOT less likely to roll over and hit ‘snooze’. It’s all about removing any obstacle that stands between you and your exercise, and the snooze button is enemy number one! Supercharge this trick by popping that alarm on top of the training clothes you laid out. Genius! 

5. Amp up your DJ skills

Create a new playlist the day before your workout, so you’re really looking forward to hitting the streets for a run to your fave tunes, or pop your iPod right next to your bed and as soon as your alarm goes off, pop your earphones in and play a pump-up song that makes you want to get up and get moving! This will help you get out of bed and get those energy levels fired up before the sun rises. 

6. Don't make it a chore

If the above strategies are still not working for you, don’t force it! Create a positive workout ritual that works for YOU, so you keep wanting to come back for more, rather than putting your sessions off. The more you train, the more you'll feel like training so train in the afternoon or evening, or opt for a brisk walk, a bike ride to work, or online/DVD yoga sessions you can do in the comfort of your own home. 

BUF bonus: Non-workout health tips to glow in the morning

If your mornings consist of a mad rush from your bed, to the shower, to dashing out the door, you might want to add a few of these easy-peasy wellbeing rituals into your morning:

• Avoid watching TV, surfing the net, or eating a big meal too late at night.
• You want to hit 6-8 hours sleep every night and 7.5hrs is the magic number ;)
• When you wake up, smile! Tell yourself you are grateful and excited about the day to come. Set the intention to have an awesome day.
• Drink warm water with a squeeze of lemon, or a dash of apple cider vinegar to kickstart your metabolism and hydrate the body. This little trick helps to create alkalinity in your body, improves digestion throughout the day and encourages your metabolism to get into gear. Even better if you’re brave enough to add a hint of chilli ;)
• Move your body for at least 10 minutes (ideally 30 – 45 minutes) upon rising. Anything from a yoga flow or a little stretching, to a walk or a home HIIT workout will do the trick. This tells your bod you are awake and ready to tackle the day, gives you a rush of feel-good hormones and elevates your mood, so you start your day off on a positive note.
• Don’t forget your protein and good fats breakfast – one of the most important parts of a rockin’ morning. This will be your biggest weapon when it comes to defending yourself against the office biscuit jar. It’ll have you burning fat from meal #1, keep your blood sugar (and insulin) levels under control and prevent cravings. Great protein/fat sources include eggs, greek yoghurt, smoked salmon, avocado, nuts and seeds. Get creative!