Morning Workout At Home: 12 Reasons To Start

Dear lilioftheworld.com reader, here is Dimo, your co-editor. Workout at home? Every morning? “It’s not for me. I can’t wake up that early. I don’t have the time” would be my answer if you asked me some five years ago. Because I was the kind of person to go to bed late and wake up late, only after the fourth snooze. However, back then I decided to try to do a morning workout at home, just to put myself in better shape. I never thought that it will be something that would become an integral part of my life. What happened in those five years is that I realized the wonderful positives from doing it and continue appreciating them day by day.

And here I am, five years later, writing an article to share my 12 good reasons to start a morning workout yourself. Enjoy the read!

1. It is good for your health

“The greatest wealth is health”!

Various health organizations (including WHO) recommend 20-30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily. Regular physical activity improves muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness along with functional health and immune system. Being healthier enables you to enjoy your life more not only as individual, but also with regards to your family. If we are in good shape we are able to provide better care for our loved ones.

2. Decreases stress levels

Regular exercise can improve your emotional and mental health by reducing stress and anxiety levels. Exercising stimulates various chemicals in your brain that leave you feeling more relaxed. Aerobic exercise is key for your brain, just as it is for your heart. You may not agree at first; indeed, the first steps are the hardest, and in the beginning, exercise will be more work than fun. But as you get into shape, you’ll begin to tolerate exercise, then enjoy it, and finally depend on it.

Here is the scientific point as this interesting Harvard article puts it: The mental benefits of aerobic exercise have a neuro-chemical basis. Exercise reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators. Endorphins are responsible for the “runner’s high” and for the feelings of relaxation and optimism that accompany many hard workouts — or, at least, the hot shower after your exercise is over.

3. Start your day with a feeling of accomplishment!

There is a great difference between regular-wake-up and kick-starting your day on a high note. The morning workout gives you the best possible beginning as it boosts the energy balance of your body. Physical activity increases the flow of blood and oxygen to the whole body. You feel energized, toned and ready for whatever challenge is coming to you in the course of the day. The positive vibe from the workout will resonate in everything that you do. As Robert Cheeke puts it: “When I work out early in the morning, the rest of the day feels so much better” 🙂

4. It is time-efficient

Compared to other forms of physical activity (like going to the gym, yoga or crossfit studio, etc.), the home workout takes significantly less time. You spare the commuting to the sports studio. You take a shower at home and don’t need to buy dedicated sportswear – nobody’s watching how you are dressed in your living or bedroom:-) The saved time could be invested in your hobbies, family or friends.

5. Improves your discipline

Doing a morning workout every or almost every day isn’t an easy thing. You need a lot of organization, dedication and persistence. You need to start waking up earlier, respectively going to bed earlier. And only a person who has done it knows that it is easier sad than done. Furthermore, there are mornings when you don’t even want to go out of bed, but you still end up on the training mat. Therefore, the morning workout is a powerful habit, which teaches you about discipline: how to set it up and how to improve it in all aspects of your private or work-life.

6. Can bring you the desired long term gains

I could transform the famous “No pain, no gain” into “No long term pain, no long term gain”. When I started doing a morning routine I never imagined that I would see my six-pack again (last time I saw it, I was in high school). However, in the second year of doing plank every morning as part of my routine, the miracle happened. I also significantly improved my very bad posture. So if you dedicate just 20-30 minutes per day taking care of your body, it can give you the deserved reward in the long run. You want to lose weight? Sure, no prob! You want to improve your overall fitness? Done! The morning workout helps shape your body the way you want! A little disclaimer here: regular exercises are fundamental to weight control, but proper nutritional habits are also required 🙂

7. Keeps you #alwaysFit

You keep your bones, muscles and joints in good shape. Morning workout can slow down the loss of bone density that can lead to osteoporosis. Elder people who exercise regularly also lower their risk of suffering from a hip fracture in case they fall. Following an exercise regimen increases the strength of your lungs, which means that all of your tissues receive an increased amount of oxygen and nutrients. This oxygen inflow gives you more energy. In addition to this the regular physical activity reduces the risk of hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, various types of cancer and depression. It doesn’t mean that you dash the chance to get some of those conditions, but at least you know that you are doing the necessary minimum to avoid them!

8. You feel rejuvenated

The morning workout makes you feel really good in your skin. There are numerous studies, which show that people who have regular physical activity in general feel younger than people who aren’t active. Once you start regular exercise, you will know that “Age is just a number!”.

9. Boosts your self-confidence and self-esteem

There are also emotional benefits stemming from regular exercises. As you achieve your fitness goals and your strength and stamina increase, your self-esteem will improve. You’ll earn a sense of control and self-confidence. Your rejuvenated vigor and energy will help you succeed in many challenges and other important lifestyle goals.

10. It’s super-cost-efficient

Another good news about training at home is that you don’t need a special gear to do it. A yoga mat is the only initial investment that you need to make. No gym membership. Neither track suit or yoga pants required. Nor sports shoes. Of course with the time you might want to get a nice set of dumbbells or a kettlebell or a power-tower, but you need none of these in the beginning.

11. Set a good example for people around you

You know what they say: “be the change, which you want to see in the world”. No matter if you want to be a role model or not, what you do and your example might have a significant impact on the people around you. And for many people this example could be exactly what would motivate them to try out some exercises and install a healthy habit in their daily routine 🙂

12. “The early bird catches the worm”

Most of the successful people wake up early. You don’t need to think of people like Richard Branson, Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos. I presume that if you look at your own circle of relatives and friends, you will recognize the pattern of successful early birds. You can read this short lifehack article to see why it is common for productive people to wake up early.

Instead of conclusion

I am sure that within the above laid you would recognize at least two or three relevant points to motivate yourself for a morning workout. This will be a decision that you would never ever regret! Furthermore, this might be the best “investment” that you will make in your life! And it will repay handsomely in the future as our bodies get older and start to mirror the way we have been treating them in earlier years. Be kind to your body so it can serve you longer and better! Therefore, do workout and be #alwaysFit!

 

I will be happy to hear your thoughts and experiences on the topic, so don’t hesitate to reach out to me!

You might consider the following related articles from our Active Life section:

• Changing Bad Habits Into Strengths
• 7 Office Exercises To Be Always Fit
• Stress Management: 10 Common Sources of Stress on the Job and What to Do
• 15 Plank Variations for Your Morning Routine
• 10 Ways to Stay @alwaysFit When Working from Home