Snoozing my alarm in the morning brings me joy, but when I started teaching I realized that wasn’t really going to be an option anymore. About a year into teaching, I was always exhausted, always sick, and always stressed. I knew I had to find a new routine as a teacher in order to better take care of myself.
Right around that time, my husband started going to the gym in the mornings with a friend. They got there at 5 AM every single morning, and I just thought it was crazy. I had never considered waking up that early for anything. I genuinely thought people who woke up before the sun had issues.
Before becoming a teacher, I had always worked out in the not so early mornings and was missing that part of my routine. I tried going in the afternoons, but I was super inconsistent, and it wasn’t really making me feel any better. Eventually, it got to the point where I was willing to do anything in order to feel like myself again. So, on December 21, 2022, I decided to wake up early and go to the gym with my husband (just to see if it was physically possible for me).
I was shocked to discover that I could, in fact, wake up before the sun.
I was blown away by the kindness and positive energy in the gym that morning.
I felt so proud of myself for getting up and going.
I had WAY more energy and mental clarity throughout the day that day.
And I decided that I could do this. I could be a crazy early-morning gym person.
I enjoy the peace and quiet of the morning. I love that I don’t have to make any decisions because I have already packed my clothes and made my lunch the night before.
I love walking into the gym and seeing my friend, Andrea, who always gives me the morning motivation I need!
I love the sense of community I have found at the gym in the early mornings. It’s way less crowded, so I got to know everyone pretty quickly. People started to notice when I wasn’t there, and that became a sense of accountability for me. No one made me feel judged, but they genuinely cared about me and wanted me there.
One of the biggest obstacles for me in the beginning was getting ready for work at the gym. I was hesitant about it at first for many reasons (community showers), but it has genuinely become a highlight of my day. There is something special about standing in front of a long mirror and getting ready for the day with other women of all ages and walks of life.
Last, but certainly not least, there is no other feeling like the dopamine hit of walking out those doors and watching the sunrise. I always feel thankful, proud of myself, and ready to handle whatever comes at me that day!
Finding a gym routine has been a learning process for me, and I have not been perfect. But I’m starting to realize that it’s not about being perfect.
There have been days where I have snoozed my alarm and skipped the gym. There have been days where I only had time for a 15-minute workout. There have been days where I had no plan and no idea what to do. There have been days where I planned to go in the afternoon and ended up never going at all. But I have found that when I stick to a consistent routine of waking up and going – no matter what – I feel so much better.
This was my first week back at work, and my goal was to go to the gym every morning this week no matter what. It was a huge challenge for me after spending the summer sleeping in and resting a lot more. There were obstacles just about every morning, and it would have been really easy to talk myself out of going. But I didn’t give myself that option. And I am so proud of myself for pushing through.
Everyone has opinions about the right way to work out, but what works for one person may be impossible for someone else. We all have different lives and schedules. The gym isn’t for everyone. Early mornings aren’t for everyone. But it’s so important to find what works for YOU!
One of the main reasons I love practicing yoga is because the instructors always encourage us to modify. Do what feels good for your body. Don’t try to overextend yourself. Be kind to your body. Whatever that looks like for you, set a goal for yourself and stick to it. No matter what. You will never know what you are capable of until you try.
Señora Newton 
Leave a comment