London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jan 19, 2026

How to become an early morning workout person

How to become an early morning workout person

There are two types of workout people – those who begin with an exercise session first-thing, and those who blow off steam at the end of the day.

Of course, there are pros and cons to both – but it’s considerably harder to push yourself to get up earlier to exercise before your day starts.

After all, that extra hour in bed is always more appealing than a run when an alarm goes off at 6am.

If you’ve always dreamt of being a morning workout person, then the clocks going forward this weekend could be the perfect opportunity to get things in order.

Days will be longer and mornings will be brighter, which means getting up should be a little easier.

Experts have suggested a few simple ways to help your body adjust to an early morning exercise session and have outlined some useful tips to keep in mind.

Start slow


Jason Bone, head of strength at FLEX Chelsea, says it’s important not to set yourself up to fail straight away and a good way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to start slowly.

‘If you’re not already an early riser the key is to start slowly, get up 15 minutes earlier than you usually would and just give yourself a 10 minute workout, probably best to start with some mobility exercises or a walk,’ he tells Metro.co.uk.

Jason also recommends drinking a glass or two of water, as this will help with rehydration and to flush out the stomach and balance the lymphatic system.

He adds: ‘Each week set the alarm 15 minutes earlier and increase the intensity of the exercise until you’re at a full hour session. Workouts such as yoga and pilates are great to start with regardless of your goal, they will help with your energy levels.

‘As you start to feel more alert you can add mini body weight circuits to your routine and even add weights depending on your goals.’

Prep your clothes the night before


It might sound really simple but having your workout clothes out ready to go may encourage you to get up. It’ll also help you to form a habit.

Health coach Charlene Gisele says: ‘If you prepare in advance, you are a step closer to building a powerful habit. The hardest part (getting ready for the workout) is then done. This is a way to trick your mind with a technique called habit staking.

‘If you put your trainers in a place where you know you’ll see it before you reach for coffee, then you know you’ve got to earn that coffee with a workout first, which is a big motivator.’

Remember the end feeling

The feel-good endorphins will set you up for the day

Natalie Edwards, a trainer for home fitness and nutrition app Open Fit, says to keep the feel-good end of the workout in mind and how it will set you up nicely for the day ahead.

She says: ‘Waking up early and getting your morning sweat can feel like a big challenge – sometimes we just want to hide under the duvet, but remember exercise releases endorphins giving you that feel good high – it’ll transform your day.

‘Morning miles fill the lungs with fresh air ahead of your day. Strength sessions can empower and set the tone of your day – think about how you want to feel and how exercise can really change your mindset for a day working from home or looking after the kids.’

Have an incredible playlist


Music has the power to make you feel motivated, happy and just generally better. So take some time to create a playlist that will make you feel energised for the session you are going to complete – whether it’s slow yoga or high-intensity running.

Jericho McMatthews, a trainer at Beachbody On Demand, says: ‘Having a killer playlist is definitely a must. Music has the ability to change our mood instantly.

‘Selecting tracks that match the mood or intensity of your workout can help you push harder, lift your pace or power through fatigue and discomfort during the most challenging parts of your circuit.’

But don’t forget to mix up your playlists once in a while, to keep things fresh and exciting.

Stretch to wake yourself up


‘Stretching is a fundamental activity that is often overlooked – and something that is almost as valuable to the body as sleeping and drinking water,’ says Rachele Gilman, director of Stretch Inc.

Of course, stretching is important at any time of day, but it’s particularly great in the morning as it helps to wake your body up after a night of sleep.

Rachele adds: ‘In the morning, our natural inclination is to stretch, most people do it without thinking.

‘When we sleep, bodies are relatively still, meaning our muscles haven’t moved for a significant amount of time. The intuitive full body stretch is your brain letting your body know it’s time to move. The movement starts to realign your body. We can improve that process by adding in some additional, less intuitive movements that can be done from your bed.

‘Be gentle with yourself. Don’t make any sudden movements and don’t jerk or force your body into positions you aren’t ready for. You’re still waking up and your muscles are warming up.

‘Remember to breathe into positions to take the stretch deeper and try to relax.’

A few early morning stretches to try from bed


* ‘Lying flat, pull your knees into your chest to release the low back. For self-massage, perform a slight side-to-side motion.

* ‘Now, a supine twist, still on your back, drop your knees to one side, turning your head and extending the arm to the opposite side. Switch sides.

* ‘Bring your knees back to centre and place both feet on your bed. Cross the right leg over the left, flexing the right foot just below the left knee. Neck and back flat on the bed.

* ‘Extend both legs out and sit up, fold your body over your legs, reaching for your toes. Reach as far as you can whilst keeping a flat back. The goal is a deep stretch, not to grab your feet.

* ‘Finally, sit on the edge of your bed with your feet on the floor and fold again, this time rounding the back, relaxing the neck and letting the arms hang towards the floor.

* ‘Give more time and thought to stretching and it’ll keep your body and mind mobile and resilient. It’ll aid posture, injury proof your body and improve general wellbeing.’

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
High-Speed Train Collision in Southern Spain Kills at Least Twenty-One and Injures Scores
Meghan Markle May Return to the U.K. This Summer as Security Review Advances
Trump’s Greenland Tariff Threat Sparks EU Response and Risks Deep Transatlantic Rift
Prince Harry’s High Court Battle With Daily Mail Publisher Begins in London
Trump’s Tariff Escalation Presents Complex Challenges for the UK Economy
UK Prime Minister Starmer Rebukes Trump’s Greenland Tariff Strategy as Transatlantic Tensions Rise
Prince Harry’s Last Press Case in UK Court Signals Potential Turning Point in Media and Royal Relations
OpenAI to Begin Advertising in ChatGPT in Strategic Shift to New Revenue Model
GDP Growth Remains the Most Telling Barometer of Britain’s Economic Health
Prince William and Kate Middleton Stay Away as Prince Harry Visits London Amid Lingering Rift
Britain Braces for Colder Weather and Snow Risk as Temperatures Set to Plunge
Mass Protests Erupt as UK Nears Decision on China’s ‘Mega Embassy’ in London
Prince Harry to Return to UK to Testify in High-Profile Media Trial Against Associated Newspapers
Keir Starmer Rejects Trump’s Greenland Tariff Threat as ‘Completely Wrong’
Trump to hit Europe with 10% tariffs until Greenland deal is agreed
Prince Harry Returns to UK High Court as Final Privacy Trial Against Daily Mail Publisher Begins
Britain Confronts a Billion-Pound Wind Energy Paradox Amid Grid Constraints
The graduate 'jobpocalypse': Entry-level jobs are not shrinking. They are disappearing.
Cybercrime, Inc.: When Crime Becomes an Economy. How the World Accidentally Built a Twenty-Trillion-Dollar Criminal Economy
The Return of the Hands: Why the AI Age Is Rewriting the Meaning of “Real Work”
UK PM Kier Scammer Ridicules Tories With "Kamasutra"
Strategic Restraint, Credible Force, and the Discipline of Power
United Kingdom and Norway Endorse NATO’s ‘Arctic Sentry’ Mission Including Greenland
Woman Claiming to Be Freddie Mercury’s Secret Daughter Dies at Forty-Eight After Rare Cancer Battle
UK Launches First-Ever ‘Town of Culture’ Competition to Celebrate Local Stories and Boost Communities
Planned Sale of Shell and Exxon’s UK Gas Assets to Viaro Energy Collapses Amid Regulatory and Market Hurdles
UK Intensifies Arctic Security Engagement as Trump’s Greenland Rhetoric Fuels Allied Concern
Meghan Markle Could Return to the UK for the First Time in Nearly Four Years If Security Is Secured
Meghan Markle Likely to Return to UK Only if Harry Secures Official Security Cover
UAE Restricts Funding for Emiratis to Study in UK Amid Fears Over Muslim Brotherhood Influence
EU Seeks ‘Farage Clause’ in Brexit Reset Talks to Safeguard Long-Term Agreement Stability
Starmer’s Push to Rally Support for Action Against Elon Musk’s X Faces Setback as Canada Shuns Ban
UK Free School Meals Expansion Faces Political and Budgetary Delays
EU Seeks ‘Farage Clause’ in Brexit Reset Talks With Britain
Germany Hit by Major Airport Strikes Disrupting European Travel
Prince Harry Seeks King Charles’ Support to Open Invictus Games on UK Return
Washington Holds Back as Britain and France Signal Willingness to Deploy Troops in Postwar Ukraine
Elon Musk Accuses UK Government of Suppressing Free Speech as X Faces Potential Ban Over AI-Generated Content
Russia Deploys Hypersonic Missile in Strike on Ukraine
OpenAI and SoftBank Commit One Billion Dollars to Energy and Data Centre Supplier
UK Prime Minister Starmer Reaffirms Support for Danish Sovereignty Over Greenland Amid U.S. Pressure
UK Support Bolsters U.S. Seizure of Russian-Flagged Tanker Marinera in Atlantic Strike on Sanctions Evasion
The Claim That Maduro’s Capture and Trial Violate International Law Is Either Legally Illiterate—or Deliberately Deceptive
UK Data Watchdog Probes Elon Musk’s X Over AI-Generated Grok Images Amid Surge in Non-Consensual Outputs
Prince Harry to Return to UK for Court Hearing Without Plans to Meet King Charles III
UK Confirms Support for US Seizure of Russian-Flagged Oil Tanker in North Atlantic
Béla Tarr, Visionary Hungarian Filmmaker, Dies at Seventy After Long Illness
UK and France Pledge Military Hubs Across Ukraine in Post-Ceasefire Security Plan
Prince Harry Poised to Regain UK Security Cover, Clearing Way for Family Visits
UK Junk Food Advertising Ban Faces Major Loophole Allowing Brand-Only Promotions
×