I know one of the biggest struggles people have with exercising is making time to workout. I totally get it – you’re busy with work / school / love / fighting/ reading RER…
Since I’m always late (aka on Monican time) I have found ways to streamline my morning routine so I have time to run and still get places on time.
Just the Tip – How to Make Time to Workout in the Morning
1. Lay out your workout gear the night before so you can just jump out of bed, into your clothes and start exercising before your body knows what’s going on… I’m pretty sure I’m asleep until 2.5 miles in on any given run.( RunEatRepeat on Instagram )
2. Make overnight oats or an Easy Green Frittata the night before and take it with you to work.
3. Master a super easy up-do so your hair doesn’t take 30 minutes.
Remember how my 5th year blogaversary meant wooden gifts?
A RER reader from Canada actually sent me this cute wooden bun holder! Thank you Lysette!
I have A LOT of hair, so if I can master an up-do with all this redness you can too!
It’s all about practice – on the weekends or when you’re staying home experiment with a few pulled back hair looks until something makes you feel good.
Choosing a cute clip over an old rubberband makes it cuter for work or going out, right?
Question: What is your ‘get ready quick’ tip?
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Shay @ Whine Less, Breathe More says
I have to lay my clothes out the night before if I plan to workout in the morning. Makes everything so much easier.
Anna {Herbivore Triathlete} says
I always lay my clothes out the night before, pack my gym bag, get my water bottle filled and in the fridge, etc. I go to spin class twice per week at 6am and have often felt like I am still asleep when I get on the bike!
Rachel says
I used to sleep in my workout clothes so when I woke up all I had to do was put shoes on. It was a game changer for me.
Ashley says
I literally lay my clothes out in the order that I would put them on: sports bra on top, then shirt, then shorts, socks, and shoes on the bottom. I totally know what you mean about being asleep until a few miles in, I might even still be sleeping until I hit the shower…
Coach [email protected] says
Since I don’t have to worry about my hair, my tip is: Have your water bottles full and your gear bag packed. Lately have been using Nuun and if I don’t put the Nuun tablets in a glass of water the night before the carbonation is too strong for my Fuel Belt water bottles and they leak all over me. I had nice, dry, warm clothes already packed in my gear bag and having it waiting for me at the LA Marathon finish line was clutch. It was cold at the beach and I was walking around enjoying the St. Pats parties. I was glad to have dry, warm clothes.
You really rocked it out there Sunday. I can’t wait to run with you again.
meredith says
Thankfully I am a morning person so I never have an issue getting myself up and ready for a workout first thing. I typically get my son on the bus for school and head out for a run straight from the bus stop. I have everything ready for the rest of my day so that as soon as I am done, I can shower and leave for wherever I need to be.
Steph @ Smiles through Miles says
Preparing the night before, specifically my workout gear, is my best way to save time for a morning workout! I definitely have to work on some cute and quick hair dos though!
Annie says
I need to start laying my clothes out. I have been picking out my work outfit the night before as well; otherwise I literally stare at my clothes for a good 15 minutes. Such a time waster!
Sarah says
My tip is to not think. That doesn’t sound like good advice though, so let me explain…
If the alarm goes off and I start thinking about why I maybe should skip my run, it’s all over. Don’t think, just get out of bed and do it.
Lindsey says
My hair is just too long to do anything cute or quick with. It’s either going in a ponytailor braid. If I did a bun, it just looks like a red cinnamon roll on the back of my head. Ha.
Elizabeth @ Positive Change says
When I am in a pinch for time I love to just add a little bit of gel to my hair, blow it for like 2 minutes, and call it a day! I also make sure to always lay out my clothes, work and work-out. This saves so much time!
Heidi says
I love these tips! I wake up at 4 am to run before work (I have to leave by 6:30). I sleep in my running shorts and tank- so I literally roll out of bed, brush my teeth, put on a sports bra, and get to running! It is so important to me to make sure that I have my outfit for work picked out and ironed the night before so that I can shower and get dressed quickly. It makes for hectic mornings, but it is SO worth it to be done for the day that early!! 🙂
Tara says
Meh, I have curly hair and those up do’s look so bad on me.
I usually try to sched a morning workout with friends, so I know they are waiting/counting on me to show.
This morning I rolled out of bed at 5am to meet up for bootcamp class in the city-I had my workout clothes laid out, clothes for the day all packed and all my food packed. All I had to do was scrub my teeth, get dressed, pour milk into my protien shake and go!
It feels so good to have my workout done for the day!
Tracy says
Recently I have been thinking about switching my workouts to the morning on Mon and Thurs. It’s been so cold every morning that it’s extremely hard to get out of bed. I just need to do it!
Caitlin says
My Hair is so thick, it’s hard to work out in anything but a very tightly wound pony tail. I saw something on pinterest actually that I’ve started to do when I’m too tired to wash my hair. it involves lots of bobby pins… It’s not my favorite thing, but it works and it’s fairly comfy.
Steph says
Mentally, I tell myself that this is “me” time, and it’s less than an hour, three times a week right now. I also remind myself that the alternative is being sat on my sofa, watching trash TV (I’m an evening runner). When I bring it down to that, I find I can easily make the time by faffing less on pointless stuff.
Colleen says
Haha! I have slept in my w/o clothes before… Never again. I teach aerobics every morning at 4:30. The fact that 20+ ppl are waiting on me forces me out of bed!
Coffee brewing in the kitchen and an alarm set across the bedroom also helps!
Jessica @ From the Kitchen to the Road says
I lay out my clothes the night before. They are on the bathroom counter. I stumble into the bathroom and do my business and am ready to go. I also am not really awake until I’m outside already. I also do a bit of positive talk the night before. If its going to be disgusting out the next morning I tell myself hey it’s going to be negative a zillion and windy. I know what to expect and it’s more a statement that I’m going out in it rather than it being an option. That helps me not use the weather as an excuse to stay in bed. It’s especially helpful here in the winter. Stupid winter.
blackhuff says
I love this post of yours, where you give advice to readers on how to make time for exercise.
Serena says
Im a morning runner. I get it done and my day is better for it.
Katie says
My tip would be to workout soon after waking up. The longer I wait to work out, the more I love lounging around. Then before I know it, a few hours have passed, and I’m even less motivated. No bueno.
Sue says
I need to know how to use a stick to do up a bun!
Chelsea says
I have to say, the title of this post kept me giggling for quite some time -long enough that I think my husband believes I’m crazy! My best getting ready tip? Find workout clothes you can sleep in and get your water bottle in the fridge so you water is nice and cold and all you need is your shoes.
runeatrepeat says
Nice tip! Glad you liked my joke 🙂
Sarah says
I have been known to sleep in my running clothes on occasion! I used to lay them out the night before, but I discovered that the main deterrent for me in the morning is not trying to find my clothes, but rather taking off my warm PJs 😛 It also has the added bonus that if I don’t make it out for my morning run, I feel really silly for sleeping in my sports bra and running shorts! (so hopefully I will be more motivated next time!) 😛
Ja @athlete within ja says
Thanks for the tips. bun holders dont work for me. I have think long hair. I hide my hair with a cap. Nobody wants to see my morning messy hair. Lol.
Amy @ Writing While Running says
Nice! I love bun holders, but my hair always falls out of them 🙁 Maybe I do not use them correctly…
janetha says
haha i love that particular natalie dee.