Not a Morning Person? Try Flowers

FitSugar — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:00:00 -0700

Are you a morning person? Well, if you are always amazed at how your best friend can head to the gym bright and early each morning while you can't even form a sentence until after 8 a.m., then probably not. However, you may be looking for a trick to help change your unpleasant morning ways.

A recent study from Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital confirmed that non morning people reported being happier and more energetic after looking at flowers first thing in the morning. Perhaps the phrase should have been, "Wake up and smell the roses," not the coffee.

So head out to your own garden and cut some blooms to put on your nightstand. Don't have a garden full or roses? Then head to the local farmers' market to get some flowers perfect for waking you up — I'm thinking yellow flowers would do just the trick. Not only will you be getting out of the house and walking around, but you're also supporting the local farmers.

Who knows, you may be more inclined to get up and get active with your day if the first thing you see is a lovely bouquet of flowers, rather than the maddening glow of your alarm clock.

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Fit Tip: The Alarm Clock

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:30:00 -0700

For those of you who work full time, it may be difficult to get away during the day to exercise. After work could be an option, but you're generally too exhausted to do anything more than make and eat dinner. You've got to exercise though, so before work is the choice you've made.

Here's a tip for getting yourself up in the morning. It may sound like a cruel trick someone would do to you in exercise boot camp, but it is really effective.

Place your alarm clock across the room, far away from your hand's reach. Place your sneakers and workout gear right next to your set alarm clock before you go to bed. This way, your alarm clock forces you out of bed and onto your feet in order to turn off that annoying sound. You'll see your sneakers and sports bra, and they will remind you why you set that stupid alarm in the first place. These visual reminders will help you resist the urge to climb back into bed. (I am not alone here, my pal DearSugar also says not to push the snooze button.)

If working out in the AM is important to you, then waking up and getting out of bed is the hardest part. After you do a couple of weeks of morning exercise, your body and mind will get into the routine and getting up will become easier (really!)

Fit's Tips: If you are a before-work exerciser, make sure to get to bed early every night. Exercise is good for your heart, but so is getting enough sleep. If you share your bedroom with another person, you better get up when that alarm clock goes off because you will have to answer to him too!

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Not a Morning Person? Try Flowers

Fit Tip: The Alarm Clock