I usually struggle to get out of bed in the morning. Hitting the snooze button at least twice is a norm for me. I know how important fitness is for maintaining overall health. Just running for five to 10 minutes at a slow pace can lower the risk of dying from heart disease. Regular runners, even the slower ones, are much healthier than those who don’t run. The real challenge, however, is getting up and actually running.
Reading about the benefits made me think, “Hey, I can totally do that!” I imagined it would be like taking a quick three-minute shower, just with clothes on and for a bit longer. I thought I could easily finish a 5k. But I was wrong. I overestimated my ability to wake up early. Like many others, getting out of bed was my biggest obstacle, but with a few quirky strategies, I finally found my motivation to run.
After hitting the snooze button four times, I managed to drag myself out of my cozy bed and into the shower. It was my go-to tactic for tackling Monday mornings and I figured it might work for morning runs too. Morning is the only time I have to be active, so I needed this plan to work.
By the time my hair dried, I was halfway awake. I put on the new workout clothes I had bought for my new fitness regime. The hardest part of starting any new habit is, of course, actually starting and sticking with it.
The first week was tough. Waking up was the biggest challenge and actually stepping out of the door was the next. Life threw its usual curveballs – unexpected surprises like kids waking up too early or breakfast getting burnt.
To make waking up easier, I put my alarm clock across the room near the bathroom. This way, when I turned it off, the shower was closer than my bed. I also ditched the awkward gym stretches from high school, finding new motivation through some simple yoga poses.
One unexpected challenge was the workout clothes. Though they’re supposed to be just a step above pajamas, some of them felt as restrictive as wetsuits. My old comfortable clothes, which were fine for quick errands, weren’t suitable for running. I needed proper attire to fuel my running habit.
The first two weeks were the hardest, figuring out why my routine wasn’t quite working. Once I had a solid wake-up routine, getting outside became easier. The fresh air and solitude of nature kept me going, allowing me to run longer distances. But then I’d crash.
I tried rewarding myself with a big breakfast after runs, but it didn’t work well. Running on an empty stomach didn’t seem effective either. High-intensity runs are better for weight loss, but starting with a marathon-like run isn’t practical. Learning about the right amount of carbs for a run also took some trial and error.
Ultimately, I found that a simple, digestible snack like half a bagel with jam worked for me. Adding nuts to my diet made a huge difference. Nuts are packed with complex carbs, which break down slowly and keep you fueled for longer. Salted and roasted almonds became my go-to snack because they’re nutritious and delicious.
Staying hydrated throughout the day was also crucial. Establishing this running habit took effort, but the energy and beautiful morning sights made it worthwhile.
Running might not be your thing, or perhaps you can’t eat nuts. That’s okay. Everyone’s body is different, and finding the right fuel and routine for your health goals is a personal journey. Experimentation is key to developing lasting healthy habits.
