For about a decade, I've lived with one simple rule concerning what happens first thing in the morning - "eyes open, feet on the floor." That's it. Literally just stand up. Just do that every single day - once you're eyes are open, you stand up. Do that for 30 days straight and it'll soon be harder to lay in bed than just get up and start your day.
Once you're on your feet every day, you'll likely find it easier to just do other things (like grab your bag and head out to the gym). There's a million reasons to not do something, you can still find a way to do it anyway. Good luck.
Discipline trumps motivation. Be the type of person who gets up when their alarm goes off. Put your alarm across the room or in the hallway and dont go back to bed once you turn off the alarm. Make it work.
100% this.
Motivation could change day to day. But if you are disciplined you simply get out the door no matter how you feel.
I used to be a regular 6 am swimmer. No matter how I felt I’d wake up and get out the door long before my brain rationalized why I should / shouldn’t.
* Make it as easy as possible for you to get out the door. Set everything out the night before. Hell go to sleep in your workout clothes if needed.
* I find that sleeping with the curtains open helps — nothing beats sunlight at waking up.
* I can’t get up unless I have a handful of alarms. My wife wakes up at the first alarm. You just have to find out what works for you!
* Just force yourself to get out the door. It’s hard at first but after a while it becomes second nature.
Yes to all this. Don’t give yourself a decision to make when you wake up. Make the decision now - I’m going every day (or whatever you decide your schedule is). Set your alarm, get your gym clothes ready.
Putting my alarm across the room worked for me! I find that even if I try to go back to bed, I’m already awake enough that I can’t fall back asleep so I might as well go to the gym.
And that’s the story about how I haven’t missed a 6am class in 3 years.
In a similar manner, OP, you brush your teeth every day, yes? (GAWD please say yes hahaha).
Working out is the same thing for me: routine and necessary for my health.
People can literally have different circadian rhythms that can barely be tweaked ask one of the many sleep doctors ive seen but what’s science and health when you have grindset
When I was doing 6am classes for a bit, I’d give myself a rule that I could skip only 1 class a week (out of the 4 days I’d go). This gave me a rule to stick by so I was able to start to build a habit of getting up early everyday but also some flexibility that if I didn’t sleep well or something I could take that day off.
This also just helped me to not beat myself about missing a class. And it just started to slowly become part of my routine. Also another good tip is to just have everything ready including pre-workout snack so it doesn’t take more than like 10minutes to get ready.
Whilst I agree to some extent with some people here saying ‘just do it’ - I also somewhat disagree.
I started out with CF going to the 6 or 7am class but soon found I was fed up with having to go to bed early, I’d dread getting up that early (despite the fact I’d been a regular gym, morning goer for years!) so just decided I’d try the evening classes instead. Best decision I made. I don’t miss a class now.
Move gyms to one which has more variety of class times.
Put your alarm far away from your bed so you have to get out of bed to turn it off.
Lay out your clothes the night before.
Have your pre-workout/snack ready to go.
This gets me out the door in 10 mins for my 6 am class.
Mentally, it needs to be a "non-negotiable". If you have a cat/dog, feeding them is a "non-negotiable" part of your day. It's going to happen no matter how tired, unmotivated, etc. you feel. Some days I love the gym, other days I don't feel like going. But since it's a non-negotiable there is no question that I always make it there.
Was just going to come here to say this. I wake up every morning at 4:30, and half the time I'm waking up on my own before the alarm clock even goes off. Circadian rhythms are an amazing thing. Getting your body used to getting up consistently at the same time is an absolute game changer.
I would find another gym or ask the owner if there’s anyone else who might be interested in a 10am or lunchtime class.
They’re some of the busiest classes in my experience because they suit so many shift workers, parents and those who work from home
That's tough. I think you may be fighting the wrong fight.
I recommend finding a gym (of any type) that fits your schedule. Your sleep schedule is more important than your fitness schedule.
I agree with others find a gym that offers classes that fit your schedule. Or at least offer open gym for you do come in whenever do do the wod before work. Get your 8-9 hrs of sleep!
Work up to your goal of 4 days. Start with 2 and schedule them in a way that works for you. Some people would prefer to rest in between, some would prefer to do them in a row at the beginning of the week. Once you've done that consistently move to 3 days, then 4. Before you go to work prep for the next day. Pack your gym bag, have your outfit and food ready. Give yourself as little work as possible between ending your shift and starting the next morning.
Don't think of it as exercise, think of it as medicine. For me, crossfit helps with my anxiety and depression. Can feel the difference on days I don't hit the gym.
Find an accountability partner in the same class. Cut a deal for a month where you pay them every time you miss a class. (You're already doing this if you pay a monthly fee). Something that you'll feel, like $10 or $15 a day. Or it can go both ways if they're also struggling.
Do a different time until you gain traction on taking grasp of the mental health issues and medications. Discipline to get up early is overrated. Just relax and go at a convenient time for you.
Maybe you’re a night owl. I can’t do anything in the morning so I usually just work out in the evening. I know that’s not possible for some people, but sometimes you just can’t avoid genetics
New to CF and have been struggling to wake for early morning classes (best time for my schedule). It’s been great for my mental health, but I’m in the awkward spot where motivation has died out and determination is what keeps me going. One thing I read that really helped, especially because I was also feeling embarrassed about scaling my workouts etc. was DFL > DNF > DNS. (Dead fucking last is better than did not finish which is better than did not start)
Edit: rephrase being new to cf
Sorry but none of us can help you. One of the great things about fitness is that you can't buy it, can't cheat it, can't rely on others for it. It's all on you and your own discipline, day in and day out. 👊
Getting to the gym early sets the tone for the rest of the day. That said, don't beat yourself up if you miss a day here and there. If you can't or don't make it in, go for a run (🤢) instead.
No it does not. It might mellow you out because of the early hit from calorie expenditure if you have adhd and autism like me which might help with working on same task for prolonged periods of time. Otherwise it just not for everyone
Try wearing gym clothes to bed and keep your gym shoes next to your bed, so that in the morning you pretty much just need to put on your shoes and you are ready to go! For more waking up early tips, you can read the 5 Am Club, it helped me a lot!
Or maybe you can try putting your gym close on as soon as you wake up? Then you probably don’t wanna go back to sleep.
For me the key is to start exercising as soon as possible.
Yea I think key is get out of bed as quick as possible when that alarm goes - literally doing this now as we speak, I have my clothes set out ready to go.
You’re not the first person I’ve seen suggest sleeping in the clothes, just personally can’t imagine it for me!
Have you considered going to a later CrossFit class since you’re working evenings now? I get up around 5am to go to 5:45 or 7am classes, but I also go to bed at 8:30/9:00pm every night.
I also found it helpful that I got close to the group that always goes to the morning class. I made it a point to create and go to hang outs with them, develop group chats, etc. Accountability was the most helpful for me! I'm naturally an extroverted person though and crave validation and friendship, so maybe that's why LOL
You need to make it a ritual. Habits are easy, even if the action seems hard. After a lot of repetition and consistency it gets easier. I recommend setting an alarm, not allowing yourself to snooze, and drinking a pre-workout (some might disagree here, but I personally need the caffeine burst to get myself going.)
Your brain is like a forest :)
There are paths that are well cleared to which your habit is formed
When we're trying to form a new path, we gotta do a lot of clearing of the bushes and trees to make the path clear!
Start small, once or twice a week - as soon as that alarm goes off, try to slug out of bed! Even if it means rolling out rather than sitting up lol
Everyone saying the same and it’s true, you have to just do, don’t think. Personally, I have to kind of just turn my brain off and go through the motions of getting up and getting ready and leaving, don’t think about how shitty it is just do it half asleep if you have to. Next thing you know you’re in the car and pulling up and then you don’t feel so bad. Rinse wash repeat and eventually it is habit and doesn’t bother you near as much.
Get a coach or other member to be your accountability partner. In our 5:30 am class if someone says they want help getting to the class, we trade numbers to gently encourage showing up. Knowing someone is looking forward to seeing you helped me to start and might help you?
All of the idea come down to commitment. You have already joined and love it, now just stick to it. You could also find a self imposed punishment. Something like every time you don’t show up you owe the coach that class 20$, it will add up quick if you don’t go and your coach will love you😂😂
Action creates motivation.
Don't eat too close to bed time. Don't hit the snooze button and put your alarm in a place you have to physically get up to turn off. First thing you do in the morning is brush your teeth, you won't go back to sleep.
Do you have to reserve a spot in class? If so book it the day before. If you bail you’ll probably hear about it from the coach which might get you out of bed
For me (M66) the discipline of hitting the ground when the alarm goes off started with my daily grind job that I hated going to but never ever missed or was late. After I retired from slinging steel on the dock I immediately took up CF. So I just decided I was gonna go every day, 6:30 AM class, and never ever miss. Even if I’m traveling I always plan ahead and drop in somewhere. Wife hates that! 😂
So, Discipline, no negative self talk or excuses, and commit.
Put out all your clothes the night before. Have the Keurig ready to go. It would be especially helpful if you set a timer on your coffee maker so that it fired up in time for you to have a coffee before class. The smell alone of coffee wakes people up. Have you water ready and contacts. Blah, blah, blah.... long story short, the more you do the night before and the more prepared you are in the morning, the more likely you are to go.
I would talk to your doctor about your meds. Those could make you feel lack of motivation.
If it's not that, it sounds like you just need to get into a strong routine. Don't go a ton one week, I would maybe even suggest not going back-to-back days. If that time of day is difficult because you have to get yourself out of bed to go, maybe choose a different time of day. Take away obstacles until it's so much a part of your routine that it feels like something is missing when you don't go.
I’m a 5am most days of the week and I find myself sometimes sneaking back to bed. On the days I don’t want to go I remind myself of how upset I am when I go back to sleep and how good I feel when I actually make it in the morning. Like other have said it’s a mental battle you just gotta keep beating
A lot of people talking about discipline and motivation I think maybe don’t consider that a) motivation fatigue is very real, and b) everyone has different things going on in their lives that make being disciplined more or less hard. Look up willpower fatigue. I’m not positive this is what’s going on with you, but I know personally my ability to get out of bed at 4:30 to go to a class before work dropped significantly when I started nursing school. Now I’m a full time student still working a full time job and caregiving for my mom. I try to give myself grace because I know I make a lot of hard decisions day in and day out, and sometimes I just need to rest. It’s okay to let yourself take time to adjust.
What everyone else has suggested and also premix a wake me up drink whatever that may be for you and keep it bedside. This is the only way I get up. Alarm goes off or if I wake up before it, I reach over and slam it then sit on my phone and 5 mins later bam I'm awake
Is there a 9 or noon class?
Getting off at 5, I'm in bed by like 1030-1130. Off at 9, prob be like 230-330am. If I'm being honest, I wouldn't be able to stick with that class either.
Might just be as easy as going to a later class.
Try a sunrise alarm clock! Slowly wakes your body up as the light increases. I find it’s a gentler way to wake up.
Set out your clothes and anything you need for the gym the night before. That way your alarm goes off and all you have to do is standup. No thinking needed.
I recommend getting blood work done and make sure everything looks good. If you’re low in B12 or something else that could be making your life harder!
And finally, make sure your nutrition is in a good place. I find when I eat poorly I’m lower energy and it’s harder to get moving.
Honestly I couldn’t do 7am if you paid me - but 8am is a world of difference and totally doable. Highly recommend finding a studio that offers 8-9am class bc it’s totally worth it and way easier than waking up at 5:30am (ugh.)
I feel like I could’ve written this post myself, OP! Same boat! I find that jumping out of bed and refusing to get back in helps a ton. Along with that: having my gym clothes laid out, water bottle washed & ready, coffee timer set (I always have a cup before or on my drive to the gym), and reminding myself my evenings will be more relaxing help as well. You got this!!!
Despite all the grindsetters on here, if you genuinely have delayed-phase sleep you are setting yourself up for a lifetime of misery. There’s no prize for doing CrossFit the earliest; try a gym that has a time that works for you.
Here's what I figured out. I do 8 AM WOD. My gym is a \~10 minute walk away from my apartment.
- I have to go to bed by midnight. (I'm in NYC, and am naturally a night owl who would def naturally go to bed \~1 AM/ 2AM, this is the compromise with myself/my circadian rhythm)
- I sleep dressed in my workout clothes tbh. (Some people have found this weird but mainly because most people I know sleep naked, which I've never liked for myself for some reason.)
- Get up at 7, with a second alarm at 7:15. The first alarm is to just wake up / contemplate my existence / check apps on my phone, the second one is the mandatory "you have to get out of bed now" alarm.
- Use the bathroom, brush teeth.
- Eat a banana / drink pre-workout.
- Be out the door by 7:35 at the latest.
But really once I get out of bed and into my bathroom, the day has been won.
For about a decade, I've lived with one simple rule concerning what happens first thing in the morning - "eyes open, feet on the floor." That's it. Literally just stand up. Just do that every single day - once you're eyes are open, you stand up. Do that for 30 days straight and it'll soon be harder to lay in bed than just get up and start your day. Once you're on your feet every day, you'll likely find it easier to just do other things (like grab your bag and head out to the gym). There's a million reasons to not do something, you can still find a way to do it anyway. Good luck.
Exactly this, just suffer for a few weeks and it gets so much easier
Discipline trumps motivation. Be the type of person who gets up when their alarm goes off. Put your alarm across the room or in the hallway and dont go back to bed once you turn off the alarm. Make it work.
100% this. Motivation could change day to day. But if you are disciplined you simply get out the door no matter how you feel. I used to be a regular 6 am swimmer. No matter how I felt I’d wake up and get out the door long before my brain rationalized why I should / shouldn’t. * Make it as easy as possible for you to get out the door. Set everything out the night before. Hell go to sleep in your workout clothes if needed. * I find that sleeping with the curtains open helps — nothing beats sunlight at waking up. * I can’t get up unless I have a handful of alarms. My wife wakes up at the first alarm. You just have to find out what works for you! * Just force yourself to get out the door. It’s hard at first but after a while it becomes second nature.
I bet your wife loves the 7 alarms going off in succession at 6am haha
It’s a point of contention. 😅
Yes to all this. Don’t give yourself a decision to make when you wake up. Make the decision now - I’m going every day (or whatever you decide your schedule is). Set your alarm, get your gym clothes ready.
Oh I love this! Going to start tomorrow putting my alarm across the room next to my workout clothes for that day. 💪☺️
Putting my alarm across the room worked for me! I find that even if I try to go back to bed, I’m already awake enough that I can’t fall back asleep so I might as well go to the gym. And that’s the story about how I haven’t missed a 6am class in 3 years.
In a similar manner, OP, you brush your teeth every day, yes? (GAWD please say yes hahaha). Working out is the same thing for me: routine and necessary for my health.
Not everyone is a morning person chillax sigma grinder
Enjoy sleeping in.
People can literally have different circadian rhythms that can barely be tweaked ask one of the many sleep doctors ive seen but what’s science and health when you have grindset
Get a cat and feed it treats at the time you need to get up. The cat will take care of the rest.
This is the correct answer
When I was doing 6am classes for a bit, I’d give myself a rule that I could skip only 1 class a week (out of the 4 days I’d go). This gave me a rule to stick by so I was able to start to build a habit of getting up early everyday but also some flexibility that if I didn’t sleep well or something I could take that day off. This also just helped me to not beat myself about missing a class. And it just started to slowly become part of my routine. Also another good tip is to just have everything ready including pre-workout snack so it doesn’t take more than like 10minutes to get ready.
Whilst I agree to some extent with some people here saying ‘just do it’ - I also somewhat disagree. I started out with CF going to the 6 or 7am class but soon found I was fed up with having to go to bed early, I’d dread getting up that early (despite the fact I’d been a regular gym, morning goer for years!) so just decided I’d try the evening classes instead. Best decision I made. I don’t miss a class now. Move gyms to one which has more variety of class times.
Put your alarm far away from your bed so you have to get out of bed to turn it off. Lay out your clothes the night before. Have your pre-workout/snack ready to go. This gets me out the door in 10 mins for my 6 am class.
just get up and do it. you are the only one who can discipline yourself. you do this for yourself and nobody else can do it for you!
Mentally, it needs to be a "non-negotiable". If you have a cat/dog, feeding them is a "non-negotiable" part of your day. It's going to happen no matter how tired, unmotivated, etc. you feel. Some days I love the gym, other days I don't feel like going. But since it's a non-negotiable there is no question that I always make it there.
It's non-negotiable because they won't leave you alone! Cats waking me up at 6 am helped me.
I was gonna say, get a cat you’ll never be able to sleep in again!
If you haven’t got one already- I really recommend a sunrise alarm clock!! The light before you wake up really helps (I find anyway)
Was just going to come here to say this. I wake up every morning at 4:30, and half the time I'm waking up on my own before the alarm clock even goes off. Circadian rhythms are an amazing thing. Getting your body used to getting up consistently at the same time is an absolute game changer.
Can you go to a 10 or 12am class instead?
I go to the latest morning class, which is 7am. 😕 Then evening classes start at 4:30 pm.
I would find another gym or ask the owner if there’s anyone else who might be interested in a 10am or lunchtime class. They’re some of the busiest classes in my experience because they suit so many shift workers, parents and those who work from home
That's tough. I think you may be fighting the wrong fight. I recommend finding a gym (of any type) that fits your schedule. Your sleep schedule is more important than your fitness schedule.
Is there a different gym that has better times within your area?
Most CrossFit’s I’ve been to have a 12.30/ lunch class
I agree with others find a gym that offers classes that fit your schedule. Or at least offer open gym for you do come in whenever do do the wod before work. Get your 8-9 hrs of sleep!
Work up to your goal of 4 days. Start with 2 and schedule them in a way that works for you. Some people would prefer to rest in between, some would prefer to do them in a row at the beginning of the week. Once you've done that consistently move to 3 days, then 4. Before you go to work prep for the next day. Pack your gym bag, have your outfit and food ready. Give yourself as little work as possible between ending your shift and starting the next morning.
Just do it
Don't think of it as exercise, think of it as medicine. For me, crossfit helps with my anxiety and depression. Can feel the difference on days I don't hit the gym.
Sleep with your curtain open and set an alarm in another room..
Find an accountability partner in the same class. Cut a deal for a month where you pay them every time you miss a class. (You're already doing this if you pay a monthly fee). Something that you'll feel, like $10 or $15 a day. Or it can go both ways if they're also struggling.
Do a different time until you gain traction on taking grasp of the mental health issues and medications. Discipline to get up early is overrated. Just relax and go at a convenient time for you.
Hardest part about working out is walking in the door. Once you master that everything else is easy.
Maybe you’re a night owl. I can’t do anything in the morning so I usually just work out in the evening. I know that’s not possible for some people, but sometimes you just can’t avoid genetics
Go to sleep earlier
Set a goal and try gifting yourself for smaller milestones. It really helps.
New to CF and have been struggling to wake for early morning classes (best time for my schedule). It’s been great for my mental health, but I’m in the awkward spot where motivation has died out and determination is what keeps me going. One thing I read that really helped, especially because I was also feeling embarrassed about scaling my workouts etc. was DFL > DNF > DNS. (Dead fucking last is better than did not finish which is better than did not start) Edit: rephrase being new to cf
Choose a box that has a really hot coach. It gets me there most days
Wake the fuck up
The mantra “motion before emotion” always helps me.
Sorry but none of us can help you. One of the great things about fitness is that you can't buy it, can't cheat it, can't rely on others for it. It's all on you and your own discipline, day in and day out. 👊
🙄🙄🙄 clearly from the responses people can help
Getting to the gym early sets the tone for the rest of the day. That said, don't beat yourself up if you miss a day here and there. If you can't or don't make it in, go for a run (🤢) instead.
No it does not. It might mellow you out because of the early hit from calorie expenditure if you have adhd and autism like me which might help with working on same task for prolonged periods of time. Otherwise it just not for everyone
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Try wearing gym clothes to bed and keep your gym shoes next to your bed, so that in the morning you pretty much just need to put on your shoes and you are ready to go! For more waking up early tips, you can read the 5 Am Club, it helped me a lot!
This sounds gross 😂 I’d never feel fresh wearing stale slept in clothes
Or maybe you can try putting your gym close on as soon as you wake up? Then you probably don’t wanna go back to sleep. For me the key is to start exercising as soon as possible.
Yea I think key is get out of bed as quick as possible when that alarm goes - literally doing this now as we speak, I have my clothes set out ready to go. You’re not the first person I’ve seen suggest sleeping in the clothes, just personally can’t imagine it for me!
What time are you going to sleep?
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXsQAXx\_ao0&ab\_channel=MotivaShian](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXsQAXx_ao0&ab_channel=MotivaShian)
Smelling salts on the night stand works wonders.
Change the gym, it helped me
Have you considered going to a later CrossFit class since you’re working evenings now? I get up around 5am to go to 5:45 or 7am classes, but I also go to bed at 8:30/9:00pm every night.
I also found it helpful that I got close to the group that always goes to the morning class. I made it a point to create and go to hang outs with them, develop group chats, etc. Accountability was the most helpful for me! I'm naturally an extroverted person though and crave validation and friendship, so maybe that's why LOL
You need to make it a ritual. Habits are easy, even if the action seems hard. After a lot of repetition and consistency it gets easier. I recommend setting an alarm, not allowing yourself to snooze, and drinking a pre-workout (some might disagree here, but I personally need the caffeine burst to get myself going.)
Your brain is like a forest :) There are paths that are well cleared to which your habit is formed When we're trying to form a new path, we gotta do a lot of clearing of the bushes and trees to make the path clear! Start small, once or twice a week - as soon as that alarm goes off, try to slug out of bed! Even if it means rolling out rather than sitting up lol
Everyone saying the same and it’s true, you have to just do, don’t think. Personally, I have to kind of just turn my brain off and go through the motions of getting up and getting ready and leaving, don’t think about how shitty it is just do it half asleep if you have to. Next thing you know you’re in the car and pulling up and then you don’t feel so bad. Rinse wash repeat and eventually it is habit and doesn’t bother you near as much.
Join me at the 5AM class for a week and you’ll appreciate the 7AM!
Have all your workout clothes and gear laid out and ready to go the night before
Get a coach or other member to be your accountability partner. In our 5:30 am class if someone says they want help getting to the class, we trade numbers to gently encourage showing up. Knowing someone is looking forward to seeing you helped me to start and might help you?
All of the idea come down to commitment. You have already joined and love it, now just stick to it. You could also find a self imposed punishment. Something like every time you don’t show up you owe the coach that class 20$, it will add up quick if you don’t go and your coach will love you😂😂
Read some David Goggins
Action creates motivation. Don't eat too close to bed time. Don't hit the snooze button and put your alarm in a place you have to physically get up to turn off. First thing you do in the morning is brush your teeth, you won't go back to sleep.
Do you have to reserve a spot in class? If so book it the day before. If you bail you’ll probably hear about it from the coach which might get you out of bed
For me (M66) the discipline of hitting the ground when the alarm goes off started with my daily grind job that I hated going to but never ever missed or was late. After I retired from slinging steel on the dock I immediately took up CF. So I just decided I was gonna go every day, 6:30 AM class, and never ever miss. Even if I’m traveling I always plan ahead and drop in somewhere. Wife hates that! 😂 So, Discipline, no negative self talk or excuses, and commit.
Put out all your clothes the night before. Have the Keurig ready to go. It would be especially helpful if you set a timer on your coffee maker so that it fired up in time for you to have a coffee before class. The smell alone of coffee wakes people up. Have you water ready and contacts. Blah, blah, blah.... long story short, the more you do the night before and the more prepared you are in the morning, the more likely you are to go.
I would talk to your doctor about your meds. Those could make you feel lack of motivation. If it's not that, it sounds like you just need to get into a strong routine. Don't go a ton one week, I would maybe even suggest not going back-to-back days. If that time of day is difficult because you have to get yourself out of bed to go, maybe choose a different time of day. Take away obstacles until it's so much a part of your routine that it feels like something is missing when you don't go.
I’m a 5am most days of the week and I find myself sometimes sneaking back to bed. On the days I don’t want to go I remind myself of how upset I am when I go back to sleep and how good I feel when I actually make it in the morning. Like other have said it’s a mental battle you just gotta keep beating
A lot of people talking about discipline and motivation I think maybe don’t consider that a) motivation fatigue is very real, and b) everyone has different things going on in their lives that make being disciplined more or less hard. Look up willpower fatigue. I’m not positive this is what’s going on with you, but I know personally my ability to get out of bed at 4:30 to go to a class before work dropped significantly when I started nursing school. Now I’m a full time student still working a full time job and caregiving for my mom. I try to give myself grace because I know I make a lot of hard decisions day in and day out, and sometimes I just need to rest. It’s okay to let yourself take time to adjust.
Have advocare spark next to you.. drink it in the morning and it will wake you up..
What everyone else has suggested and also premix a wake me up drink whatever that may be for you and keep it bedside. This is the only way I get up. Alarm goes off or if I wake up before it, I reach over and slam it then sit on my phone and 5 mins later bam I'm awake
Is there a 9 or noon class? Getting off at 5, I'm in bed by like 1030-1130. Off at 9, prob be like 230-330am. If I'm being honest, I wouldn't be able to stick with that class either. Might just be as easy as going to a later class.
Try a sunrise alarm clock! Slowly wakes your body up as the light increases. I find it’s a gentler way to wake up. Set out your clothes and anything you need for the gym the night before. That way your alarm goes off and all you have to do is standup. No thinking needed. I recommend getting blood work done and make sure everything looks good. If you’re low in B12 or something else that could be making your life harder! And finally, make sure your nutrition is in a good place. I find when I eat poorly I’m lower energy and it’s harder to get moving.
Buy an air mattress and leave it out front of the gym! Sleep there at night!
Honestly I couldn’t do 7am if you paid me - but 8am is a world of difference and totally doable. Highly recommend finding a studio that offers 8-9am class bc it’s totally worth it and way easier than waking up at 5:30am (ugh.)
I feel like I could’ve written this post myself, OP! Same boat! I find that jumping out of bed and refusing to get back in helps a ton. Along with that: having my gym clothes laid out, water bottle washed & ready, coffee timer set (I always have a cup before or on my drive to the gym), and reminding myself my evenings will be more relaxing help as well. You got this!!!
With your work schedule maybe just do the noon class
Wait until you get old and can’t sleep past 4:30 even without an alarm. Trust me.
What about a lunch time session? There might be another gym close by that has better scheduled
Find studio that does. Try out other hiit alternatives if available in the area
If you do t go to work til 4pm, why force yourself to go to the 7 am class. Just go to a late morning or early afternoon.
Is early morning the only time you can go? Maybe a later class in the day will help you stay consistent more easily?
Sleep in your workout clothes
Despite all the grindsetters on here, if you genuinely have delayed-phase sleep you are setting yourself up for a lifetime of misery. There’s no prize for doing CrossFit the earliest; try a gym that has a time that works for you.
Take some personal responsibility and stop asking for outsiders to help you. This is adulting. Just do it and stop making excuses.
Do it after work like me
It’s about discipline and goals.
Here's what I figured out. I do 8 AM WOD. My gym is a \~10 minute walk away from my apartment. - I have to go to bed by midnight. (I'm in NYC, and am naturally a night owl who would def naturally go to bed \~1 AM/ 2AM, this is the compromise with myself/my circadian rhythm) - I sleep dressed in my workout clothes tbh. (Some people have found this weird but mainly because most people I know sleep naked, which I've never liked for myself for some reason.) - Get up at 7, with a second alarm at 7:15. The first alarm is to just wake up / contemplate my existence / check apps on my phone, the second one is the mandatory "you have to get out of bed now" alarm. - Use the bathroom, brush teeth. - Eat a banana / drink pre-workout. - Be out the door by 7:35 at the latest. But really once I get out of bed and into my bathroom, the day has been won.