10 Tips On How To Drag Your Butt Out Of Bed
If you're like the rest of us, sometimes you just need an extra nudge out of your blankets in the morning.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Ah, mornings. In a perfect world, mornings would be reserved for pancakes and sleeping in but in the real world, mornings are mostly about trying to cram in a shower/pack lunches/scarf some oatmeal before you’re late for work. If you’re extra ambitious, you might try and add a workout to the craziness, but that means getting up even earlier, something that can feel absolutely positively impossible some (okay, almost all) of the time. There are lots of tips out there for how to get to bed earlier, or how to become a morning person, but sometimes all you need is a reason to just.get.out.of.bed. So here are a few helpful hints to motivate you to throw off the covers and throw on your sneakers.
Drink up
Right before bed, fill a big glass of water and put it on your nightstand. As soon as you open your eyes, reach over and chug, chug, chug to feel instantly awake and hydrated. Bonus points for adding a squeeze of lemon for extra cleansing and digestive benefits.
Smell the coffee
Literally. If you need a jolt of java before you can even think about lacing up, set the timer on your coffee maker to kick on a few minutes before your alarm clock. The scent of coffee will help entice you to get up, and knowing that you are one step closer to caffeinated bliss may be all you need to open your eyes.
Related: 5 Reasons It’s Okay To Drink Coffee As A Runner
Picture perfect
Frame a picture of yourself at your last race, or just a favorite photo of you out running. Put it right next to your alarm clock so you are literally face-to-face with your motivation. And who could say no to that face?
Pump up the jam
If you use your phone as an alarm clock, program it to wake you up with your favorite get-psyched anthem. You know the one—the song you play when you’re all cement legs and stomach cramps on your run and need a push to get through the final mile. Getting out from your cozy cocoon is just as hard and your favorite song will work just as well.
Related: Run Fast With Our November Playlist
Put it in plain view
If you’ve got a race coming up, print out a copy of your registration and hang it somewhere you’ll see it when you’re lying down. Or tack up a calendar and circle “race day” in red marker to remind you why you’re even considering get out of bed.
Dress for success
Some people swear by sleeping in their workout clothes to kick-start things, but if you’d rather snooze in a T-shirt than a sports bra, pick out an outfit the night before, put everything on a hanger and drape it from the back of your closet so you can envision yourself in all your spandex-y glory from bed.
Related: Apparel Choices That Work For Work Or Working Out
Say “no” to social media
Do you have a tendency to pick up your phone first thing and scroll through Facebook until 20 minutes have magically disappeared, along with your workout window? Put your phone across the room at night to keep yourself from getting too handsy first thing in the morning. Even better if your phone doubles as your alarm—you have no choice but to get out of bed to shut it off. While you’re at it, stick your phone in one of your sneakers for a one-two motivational punch.
Phone a friend
Schedule a workout with your running buddy and designate one of you to call the other when you wake up. The pressure to make or pick up the call will be enough to get your booty out of bed. Or if you can’t make a joint run happen, just agree to be accountable to each other for your individual workouts and still call each other to make sure you’re up and at ’em.
Keep things interesting
Try and come up with a little something to put some pep in your step and encourage you to get up every morning. Make a fresh playlist, buy a new tank top, or pick up a few of your favorite energy bars in flavors you’ve never tried. Having something to look forward to, no matter how small, can go a long way toward getting you going.
Talk to yourself
Before you even open your eyes, taking 60 seconds to give yourself a pep talk can make a big difference. Try repeating a mantra that summarizes how you feel about running or your fitness goals, or go with the oldie-but-goodie: “You can do this!” Other options—tell yourself about all the other runners getting their workout done while you’re in bed, bribe yourself with a latte when you finish, or threaten yourself with how horrible you’ll feel if you skip it. #whateverworks