Use the End of Daylight Saving Time to Start Your Morning Exercise
I’m not a morning person by nature, but I’ve gone through phases of morning exercise. My day always goes better if I get to my workout early. That’s why the coming weekend, with the time change, will be special for people like me. Unfortunately, we still have Daylight Saving Time . And I’ll take advantage of it while I can, because the fall time change gives us an extra hour in the morning (even if it’s cruelly ripped out of our evening routines).
I mean, you could use that extra hour to sleep. But I choose to become a morning person during the winter months by simply setting my alarm an hour earlier, starting on the first day of standard time (which is next Sunday, November 3rd). You won’t feel like you’re getting up early, but the hours have changed, so in essence you are. The perfect time to immerse yourself in the winter atmosphere .
How to plan your morning workouts
The first day you wake up “early” everything will be the same as always. But now, when you start your morning exercise, you will have to deal with the winter darkness. It will get closer, sunrise will be a few minutes later each day, until your morning run will likely be completely in the dark.
If you’re running in the early morning, be sure to invest in a headlamp to help you see and be seen. The Petzl Tikkina is a good choice that isn’t too expensive, although you might want to shell out $30 for a rechargeable battery that fits in place of three AAA cells (the rechargeable battery is designed to perform well in cold conditions, which comes in handy.) Also consider to wear bright colors, a reflective vest or even something like a Noxgear Tracer to ensure good visibility on the side of the road.
At the gym, remember that the rhythm of the place will change. There will be a different group of regulars, and it may be more or less busy than you are used to. But even if everything is the same, there’s something luxurious about being able to take your time at the gym when you’d normally have to squeeze in the last few exercises and rush to work.