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How to Become a Morning Person — And Make Your 7am Workout

Everyone has a natural tendency to be an early riser or a night owl (thanks biology), but there are easy strategies you can implement so your blaring alarm-siren-horn is less jarring and slightly more inviting. And, if you’re looking to make your early-morning hours especially productive, you might want squeeze a workout in before you down your Wheaties. Here are five ways to make it happen:

1. Quirky alarms

If you find yourself getting too friendly with the snooze button, or worse, turning alarms off in your sleep, you might want to consider a more creative contraption.

This dumbbell needs to be swung once or lifted 30 times to turn off. Meanwhile, this clock is equipped with a propeller mechanism that flies away, leaving your alarm blaring until you return it. (Use both and you’ve basically got interval training.) Another alternative is a wake-up light that gradually illuminates and mimics the sun rising (it beeps, too).

Of course, if you’d rather not invest in additional gadgets, you can also try moving your alarm further away from your bed. This DIY method requires you to get out of bed to turn it off.

2. Do it gradually

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your six-pack won’t be, either. Consider setting your alarm five minutes earlier each day until you reach your prime wake-up time. It might take a while, but you’ll be naturally more inclined to maintain the habit down the road.

3. Caffeine is your friend

Real talk: the transition to becoming a morning person might not be easy. To ensure a smooth segue, have your coffee, milk, sugar and to-go mug prepped and ready for your pre-workout jolt. Acknowledge that coffee is part of the process.

4. There’s an app for that

Does it seem like your alarm is waking you up during your deepest possible slumber? It might be. When placed on your bed, this app analyzes your sleep and wakes you up during your lightest sleep phase. You need only select a predefined 30-minute window for when you want to be woken, and then your alarm will sound during an optimal period.

5. Pack ahead

If you can’t shake your resistance to rising from your comfy bed, slogging to your closet, and getting ready in the morning, try laying out your sneakers, workout clothes and gear the night before. That way, you won’t be scuttling around your house looking for earbuds or a water bottle when you could be hitting the gym.

For more information on how Independence Blue Cross can be a part of your plan for health and wellness, click here.

Sponsor content is created for IBX by Philadelphia magazine as a marketing collaboration with IBX. This material is intended for reference and information only and should not be used in place of advice from a doctor or suitable qualified healthcare professionals.