Anyone who knows me knows I’m absolutely not a morning person. Even despite being a former athlete and prior military, mornings and that early wake up call without an alarm, just don’t come easy and for most, mornings are a love-hate relationship.
In today’s social climate, we say things like, “nothing starts before coffee” and truth be told, that includes one’s metabolism, but the question remains, are there benefits to becoming a “morning person?” Over the years after much research and personal discovery, I’ve found that while I still love every opportunity to sleep in, when it comes to health, fitness and productivity, there is nothing more fulfilling than an early start which is essential for optimal health, mental awareness and even time management. Here are 10 Great reasons to reconsider why you say GOOD MORNING!
- You can accomplish absolutely nothing else the rest of the day and still feel accomplished. Because you got up at 5 am, completed your workout, showered and that alone is an accomplishment.
- People who wake up early tend to eat better afterwards. You started the day on such a good foot that you’re burning fat. So why fill up on junk food now?
- You’ll eventually get a better workout than you would later in the day. Technically, your body is wired to perform at its peak in mid-afternoon. But things like, oh, work can get in the way of workouts at that time. When you make exercise a regular part of your a.m. routine, you’ll be less likely to skip it for other obligations.
- You’ll feel less stressed when you get to work. And feel better about working late. People who exercise regularly report feeling more empowered and all around better about their work-life balance.
- Bragging rights. Let’s face it. You and a select group will be at the gym at 5am doing what the average person won’t do, getting it done. That makes you part of the elite few who can call themselves, “Morning Warriors”.
- Coffee has a great place to fuel your workouts. You don’t have to give up your cup of JOE. Research suggests that consuming caffeine before a workout can boost speed, endurance, and overall workout quality. Drinking a cup of coffee before exercising can help you burn more calories when your workout is done, called an after burn. Of course, you have to reconsider the amount of cream, sugar, whip cream, etc. as this is part of the unnecessary calories you won’t need and that will only slow your process.
- You’ll give your metabolism a big boost! You burn more calories throughout the day when you do a morning workout than you would if you did an evening workout at a similar intensity.
- You could burn more fat. While there’s lots of conflicting research on the pros and cons of exercising on an empty stomach, a recent study suggests that you can burn up to 20 percent more body fat by exercising in the morning before your first meal. Just don’t wait until lunchtime to refuel. Getting a meal in early before you sit down at your desk to start your day will jump-start your metabolism and keep your appetite under wraps to reduce your chance of overeating later on, says registered dietitian Cristina Rivera, a board certified sports nutritionist.
- You’ll start your day in an awesome mood. Even if you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, a morning workout releases endorphins for extra positive energy, which in turn makes for a better, more productive workday. You never have to feel rushed and you give yourself more time to settle in with the extra early start.
- Sense of accomplishment. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing you started your day with a sense of accomplishment and that alone brings you to the point of wanting to tackle your next task with more tenacity.
While being a morning person may take time to develop as a positive habit in your regular routine, the benefits far outweigh anything that’s keeping you from hitting that snooze button just one more time.