Make exercising easier with these habits

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A lot of people assume that successful exercisers are just more disciplined than the rest of us, but many of them focus on making workouts easier from the start. Instead of relying on sheer motivation every morning, smart people create routines that break down the obstacles that stand in the way of progress.

To get at the best strategies for overcoming the barriers that keep us well-intentioned folks from making it to the gym, a Redditor asked the r/xxfitness community which habits will move the needle on making morning workouts easier. Here are some of the best answers:

• “Stand up as soon as your alarm goes off in the morning. Don't lie around for a second to 'rest your eyes.' Don't start scrolling.”
• “The first thing I do when my alarm goes off at 5 a.m. is go to the bathroom and brush my teeth. It keeps me vertical long enough that I won't go back to bed.”
• "Set your phone or alarm clock across the room so you have to get up to turn it off.”
• "Just show up. Even if you half-*ss it, just show up. It's the habit that needs to be created.”
• “Have a bare minimum that you know you can convince yourself to do no matter what, even if you really don't want to work out.”
• "My only goal every day is to walk through the doors of the gym. My deal with myself is that if I walk through the doors, the goal is accomplished, and I can turn around and leave.”
• “Sleep in your workout clothes.”
• "Programming the coffee pot for 10 minutes before my alarm has changed my life by an almost embarrassing amount."
• "Start a great mystery audiobook, novel, or podcast and only allow yourself to listen while you're being active.”
• "Getting a friend or two to go with you was a game-changer for me. It's much harder to justify not going when someone else is involved.”
• "Getting a dog definitely gets me up and out in the morning.”
• "Figure out how working out makes — or will make — your life easier. On days when I work out before work, I'm much clearer-headed, more focused, and more motivated. I have more energy and feel better overall.”

Source: BuzzFeed