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Take control of your body, take control of your life
As the first morning light peeks through my window, a feeling of hope stirs within me.
I tell myself, ‘Today will be a good day,’ and jump out of bed.
This morning reminds me of a lesson I learned years ago, a lesson that transformed me and my life, but somehow I lost sight of it in 2023.
I remember the day in Drogheda when it all began. I woke up unusually early, my partner was still asleep, and the streets were calm. I made a strong black tea, and on a whim, I decided to go for a run.
I hadn’t run in over a year due to an accident.
As I jogged the quiet Irish streets, I felt a newfound clarity and energy flooding me. It was something I hadn’t felt before.
That day, working out first thing in the morning became a catalyst for change, and soon, my morning workouts became the keystone of my daily productivity.
I’m not alone in experiencing this transformation.
Did you know that a study by the American Council on Exercise found that people who exercise in the morning are more likely to stick to their fitness routines than those who exercise later in the day?
As Arnold Schwarzenegger once said:
I feel good in the morning. I get up, feed my animals, and then go to the gym. It makes you feel good because you’ve done something early in the morning. It’s because you’re working out and having done something physical where you kind of really sweat and you train hard.
You might have mixed feelings about Arnold, but no one can deny his work ethic.
As someone deeply inspired by his discipline and success as a non-native English speaker, growing up in adversity, I relate to him more than any other celebrity.
I’ve always been active for as long as I can remember.
From my earliest memories, I was the kid sprinting on the track field in primary school and awkwardly swinging a tennis racket during my university days.
I dabbled in various sports activities but found my true passion at 19 when my first boyfriend introduced me to bodybuilding. Initially, I didn’t see its appeal, but it grew on me over time, and I developed a deep love for it.
My dedication to fitness grew so strong that, a decade later, I earned my personal trainer qualification at the National Training Centre in Ireland. At one point, I even considered competing in fitness competitions.
There’s a joy in fitness that’s hard to describe:
I loved every aspect of it!
Since that morning in Drogheda, I’ve always been an early morning exerciser.
However, in 2023, in my journey to balance life differently and prioritize my writing side hustle, I shifted my exercise routine to the evenings.
Let me tell you, it was a struggle!
This change, I learned the hard way, went against my natural rhythm. Despite my best intentions, this shift led to many unexpected outcomes, including a weight gain of 5.5 kg (12 lbs).
You might think, ‘Well, that’s not much!’ But when you consider that it’s more than 10% of my regular body weight, it’s a substantial change.
It made me feel terrible, both physically and mentally, because it was a huge shift for me.
You see, it’s essential to know yourself.
Even though I knew myself, I tried to force myself to work out in the evening, going against my tendency with little success.
Something that I once loved so much became a daily struggle.
This experiment resulted in a year of declining physical health and a sense of loss in my inner strength and resilience.
My soul felt crushed as I saw my fitness levels plummet, especially when I had to undergo multiple physiotherapy sessions due to my inactivity and sedentary lifestyle. It was a total productivity killer because I couldn’t finish half of what I had planned.
I remember looking into the mirror and asking myself, ‘Who are you?’
In December 2023, I reached a tipping point and decided it was enough.
I felt awful trying to follow routines that didn’t align with my inner compass.
Focusing on my side hustle in the morning just didn’t work for me.
I had strayed from my path, trying to follow other people’s productivity hacks & dogmas that didn’t resonate with me.
The after-work gym sessions became a chore as my body was too exhausted even to consider an hour of exercise. But that’s exactly what my body needed the most, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Trying to balance fitness with my passion for writing, I faced a dilemma: how could I make time for both in the morning?
Why in the morning?
Because those are my best hours.
It was a puzzle that left me baffled for months.
That’s when I remembered.
I had the answer all along; I just seemed to forget it.
The answer was in my history of morning workouts. Rediscovering my love for morning exercise was more than returning to an old routine that always fueled me — it was about embracing the truth that sometimes, the answers we seek are hidden in the paths we once walked.
I also realized this was not just about finding time for both activities. It was about honouring my natural inclinations and making space for what truly mattered: health.
Because if I don’t have health, I can’t show up in other areas of my life.
A few years ago, I found myself in the corporate world at PwC, where the demanding 8 AM office and in-person client meetings were the norm.
Achieving a balanced work-life harmony seemed impossible, but I managed to maintain a regular gym schedule that started at the crack of dawn, 5.30 AM to be exact. I also had a time-demanding job, a busy social life, a sketching side hustle, and a dog care for. And I managed just fine.
I believe it was because I was exercising in the morning.
You see, being over 40, I now understand myself better.
I realized my peak physical performance doesn’t align with an evening workout schedule. Even though most side hustle writing gurus say writing first thing in the morning should be the focus, it doesn’t work for me. This approach negatively impacted my physical and mental well-being over the past year.
My attempt to follow the advice of successful writers like Eve Arnold and Dan Koe, who advocate for a morning writing regimen, proved ineffective. It’s not that I have anything against them; their methods work for many, but my life and inner compass are different.
Training isn’t more important to me than writing, but health is.
And there’s something magical about exercising in the morning while fasting, setting off a chain reaction of positive habits.
I feel like I’ve taken charge of my body and no longer let others dictate my routine.
Listening to my inner compass has led to an improved mood, better physical health, and improved mental well-being. I’ve learned that if I don’t hit the gym first thing in the morning, it just won’t happen, no matter how determined I am.
It’s a commitment I’ve made to myself, one that I won’t compromise on.
Morning workouts help me
Starting my day with exercise makes me feel strong, knowing I’ve done something good for myself.
I believe that tackling the most challenging task of the day is essential.
For me, it means exercising after work with a full belly is quite challenging. Creative writing, on the other hand, fits better in the evening because it’s less demanding for me.
I’m a bit frustrated that I had to take a year-long detour to realize what works for me and to follow my own path, regardless of what side hustle gurus preach.
I think that taking control of one’s body is self-mastery.
Now, my routine looks like this:
This routine makes me productive and allows me to show up in other areas of my life at my 100%.
My morning workout tells my body, soul, and mind that I’m ready to face whatever challenges the day brings, and I already tackled the most challenging task.
It’s my ultimate weapon against self-sabotage.
Of course, this schedule works for me only, as it’s tailored to my lifestyle, and your schedule is likely different.
The question is if you want to incorporate morning workouts into your routine, where can you make room for a 30–45-minute exercise session?
If you’ve ever thought about training in the morning, I encourage you to give it a shot. Start your day with exercise and see how it transforms your overall well-being and productivity. You might be pleasantly surprised.