She Strengthens

Rise and Shine: 18 Morning Workout Hacks to Get You Moving

Are you tired of hitting the snooze button and skipping your morning workout? You’re not alone. But what if you could train yourself to become a morning exercise enthusiast? We’ve gathered tips from fitness experts and enthusiasts who consistently work out in the early morning hours to share their secrets for success.

Get Moving with a Cool Down

Ryan Wilke, co-founder of Throwback Fitness, starts his day with a Citi Bike ride to the gym, even in freezing temperatures. The brisk air is all he needs to wake himself up and get ready for a morning workout.

Double Alarm, Double Motivation

Holly Rilinger, Nike Master Trainer, sets two alarms: one to wake her up and another to give herself 15 extra minutes of sleep. She then meditates, drinks an almond milk cappuccino, and blasts loud music to get herself pumped up for the day.

Prepare for Success

Sandee Shin, CrossFit Virtuosity athlete, prepares her workout bag the night before and goes to bed early to ensure she gets a good night’s rest. This routine helps her feel more energized and focused in the morning.

Flip the Switch

Jessi Kneeland, personal trainer and iPEC certified life coach, uses blinding light and upbeat music to wake herself up. She also grabs a cup of coffee to give herself an extra energy boost.

Breakfast on the Go

Sarah Pope, personal trainer at Crow Hill Crossfit, pre-orders her favorite smoothie to be delivered to her doorstep in the morning. This motivates her to get out of bed and start her day.

Keep the Alarm Away

Brian Gallagher, co-founder of Throwback Fitness, used to have an alarm clock that would vibrate off his nightstand, forcing him to chase it around the room to turn it off. This clever trick helped him get out of bed and start his day.

Get Ready to Rock

Bree Branker, trainer for the FitOn app, prepares her playlist and outfits the night before to get herself excited for her morning workout.

Wear Red and Get Moving

Jay Cardiello, celebrity trainer, wears red workout clothes to increase his energy levels and circulation. He also pops in a peppermint Altoid to give himself an extra boost of alertness.

Reader Tips

From splashing cold water on your face to scheduling brunch with friends, our readers share their own morning workout hacks to get you moving.

Splash and Go

Locke Hughes starts his day by washing his face with cold water to wake himself up and feel more alert.

Pack It Up

Maria Hart packs an extra plastic bag for sweaty clothes and toiletries in her workout bag to ensure she’s always prepared.

Brunch Motivation

Jeff Cattel schedules brunch with friends on the weekends to give himself something to look forward to after his morning workout.

Treat Yourself

Tara Goodrum makes energy bites loaded with almond butter and oats to give herself a delicious and healthy pre-gym snack.

Furry Friends

Mary Muller runs with her four dogs in the morning to get herself moving and energized.

Warm Up the Room

Mandy Thudium schedules the heat to turn on early and lays out her clothes the night before to make getting out of bed easier.

Group Motivation

Rachel Lockwood McDonald finds a workout group to hold herself accountable and motivated.

Chores Count

Kerstin Dorbert uses shoveling snow and getting firewood as her morning workout in the winter.

Sleep in Your Gear

Christine DiGangi sleeps in her workout clothes and packs her bag the night before to make mornings easier.

Wake-Up Light

Lauren Furmanski uses a wake-up light to simulate a sunrise and gets everything ready to go the night before to ensure a smooth morning routine.

With these 18 morning workout hacks, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a morning exercise enthusiast. Remember, it’s all about finding what works best for you and making it a habit. Happy rising!