If you're struggling to exercise right when your alarm goes off, that's okay. According to Mayo Clinic, it's best to wake up at least an hour before your workout to give yourself time to fuel up and digest before you start moving. Eating first — rather than working out on an empty stomach — may boost energy and improve performance, especially for strenuous exercises (per Healthline).
Additionally, it's important to leave time to warm up, regardless of what time of day you exercise. The Harvard Medical School explains that warm-ups slowly speed up the heart rate and breathing, pumping oxygenated blood throughout the body. This prepares muscles for the higher-intensity movements to come, reducing the risk of injury.
Cedric Bryant, chief science officer for the American Council on Exercise, agrees on the importance of warming up. He told AZCentral that exercising soon after waking up requires a long, gentle warm-up first. While a typical warm-up may only last five or 10 minutes, you'll likely need more time to get warmed up before going for a run or hopping on gym equipment if you only recently climbed out of bed.
