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I'm going to be real with you... personal trainer or not, I am NOT a morning workout person.
If I had to choose between waking up 20 minutes early to do a 20 minute workout, or doing a 90 minute workout after 12 pm... 90 minutes would win every time.
Nonetheless, my interest has been peaked lately. Over the years, I've heard more and more, just how beneficial it is to move your body first thing upon waking.
Being a bit of a questionner though, I like to know why I should do something before I'll actually put it into effect.
Here's what I found:
I'm as protective of my morning coffee as I am of my sleep, so I won't be giving up that any time soon. But who can have too much energy??
Plus, that extra boost in physical energy lends itself to better mental clarity and more productivity... sign me up!
I got this phrase from the master of habits, Gretchen Rubin. In her brilliant book, Better Than Before, she says if you want to create a positive habit, it's more important to stay in the habit of the habit, than it is to do the habit perfectly.
In other words, if you want to get in the habit of working out, you'll be more likely to succeed long term doing 10 minute workouts every day than you would doing an hour workout sporadically.
So by moving every morning, even for a short duration, you're solidifying your habit of daily movement before life gets in the way and jacks with your consistency.
I desperately wish I could grasp the name of this phenomenon. Alas, it is too far in the recesses of my memory. But I can tell you this, our brain is intrinsically wired to remain congruent. We really get uncomfortable when we perceive ourselves to be out of alignment in our decision making.
For example, people who start a healthy eating habit will have a higher likelihood of quitting smoking, even if that was never a goal they set out to achieve.
It's because once you do one thing that's healthy, your brain gets signaled to make congruent choices the rest of the day. Lest you be a hypocrite with your own actions.
Unfortunate as it was for me to hear this as an afternoon or evening exerciser, it turns out exercise in the morning does stimulate a deeper, more restful sleep than its later counterparts.
So if you want to get that good shuteye, some morning movement wouldn't be a terrible idea.
With all that being said, I know myself well enough to know I'm not going to flip my fitness routine on its head.
However, I thought it couldn't hurt to come up with this 6 minute circuit to help warm up and wake up our bodies, and give us a little extra shot of espresso for our day.
Click the video above to follow along. And I would LOVE for you to share with me how you feel throughout your day after doing it. So snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @katspanglerunleashed, I'd love to hear from you!
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