Motivation - Overcoming the Alarm Clock

You are not alone...we all know exercise is beneficial. But when faced with getting your sweat on during a morning workout or getting a little extra shut eye, who wouldn't reach for the snooze button and pull the covers up?

Rise and shine. Plug in your alarm clock across the room so that it can't be turned off without getting out of bed. And make sure your workout clothes are prepared the night before and sitting next to the alarm clock as a secondary source of motivation.

Exercise at any time of the day is better than no exercise at all, but the benefits of a morning fitness routine are plenty.

"Morning exercise revs the metabolism and jump-starts energy levels, actually accelerating your ability to burn calories," says Amy Burleson Sullivan, PsyD, clinical health psychologist in the primary care section at the Dayton VA Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio. "It gets the endorphins flowing so that when you're finished you have greater acuity, less anxiety, improved mood, and increased ability to concentrate, all of which contribute to a better day," explains Sullivan.

Rise and Shine!