Running in the morning can be difficult. The alarm goes off and you hit snooze for just a few more minutes of precious sleep. 45 minutes later you stumble out of bed and you missed your run. You then tell yourself you will make up during lunch or after work. The day comes and goes and at 7 p.m. you find that you barely had time to cross off all of your work tasks.

Break the “I’ll just run later” cycle with these 5 simple hacks to get you running in the morning.

To be consistent you should pick a time of day that works best for you. However, as busy women wearing multiple hats, the day just doesn’t seem to have enough hours. Scheduling a run or workout first thing in the morning will generally pay off in terms of consistency, resulting in prioritizing your wellness.

1. Set yourself up for success the night before. Pick out your running clothes, along with all of your necessary gear the night before. Lay it out and have it ready to change into without causing too much disruption to your family or housemates.
2. Set a timer for your coffee machine to start percolating 15 minutes before your alarm goes off. The smell of your favorite java jolt brewing should help to leave bed that much easier. If you aren’t a huge fan of coffee? According to a 2008 study *on the effects of coffee aroma on sleep-deprived test subjects, there are still plenty of benefits to be found in just the aroma of the coffee brewing.
3. Schedule a morning running “date” with a friend.  Current social distancing in a global pandemic may not make an in-person run with your gal pals feasible. However, you can utilize technology to help you stay connected. Text each other in the morning to help hold each accountable. Or check-in on Strava or Garmin Connect for that extra boost of accountability. Still looking for other ways to stay committed to your workout? Join the 6-week accountability group.
4. Set a bedtime alarm. This one may be the most difficult step to abide by and quite possibly the one that will make the biggest difference. I am not a proponent on cutting back on sleep. I am a huge fan of giving up mindlessly scrolling through TikTok or Instagram before bed to let your body recover and reset. This one step will make running in the morning so much easier.
5. Plan your dinner accordingly. Feeling sluggish for your morning run is no fun, having stomach cramps can be even worse. So if you know that you have an early morning run or workout planned do yourself a favor by eating the right foods the night before. Skip saying “Yes, I will have another margarita to celebrate Taco Tuesday”. Instead choose to minimize your drinking and consider a healthier Taco Tuesday, like this Skinny Taste recipe at home.

Do you have a sure-fire hack to get you out the door and running in the morning? Send them our way.

*Reprinted with permission from the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Copyright 2008 American Chemical Society.