We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Every year I look forward to the autumn time change because I have plans for that extra morning hour. Turning back the clock is a great way to start your morning routine because without it you can get up an hour earlier. feeling It's like getting up an hour earlier. This is a great way to lean on your winter arc.
We, unfortunately, still switching to daylight saving time thing. But I'll take advantage of this fact while I can, because the fall time change gives us an extra hour in the morning (even if it's cruelly snatched from our evening routines). I'm not a morning person by nature, but my day always goes better when I get to work out early, so I'm going to take that extra hour in the morning and use it to work out instead of recalibrating my body clock to wake up later. I encourage all my fellow night owls to do the same.
When to wake up if you use time change
I mean you could use the extra hour to sleep – use it if you need it. But personally, I'm going to set my alarm an hour earlier than I get up, starting this Sunday (November 2, the first day of standard time in 2025). An hour is plenty of time for a simple strength workout or a short run and a quick shower before officially starting the day. I set aside one day a week for sleep, for me it's Saturday. On days when I'm off from training, I still wake up on a regular schedule, but use the morning hour to do something fun or relaxing, like reading a book.
If you want to fit in a full workout and need more time than an hour gives you, this is still a good way to soften the blow. For example, you might wake up 90 minutes earlier (according to your clock) but feel only 30 minutes earlier than usual (according to your circadian rhythm).
How to plan your morning workouts
The first day you wake up “early” everything will be the same as always. But now, when you start your morning exercise, you will have to accept the winter darkness. It will get closer, sunrise will be a few minutes later each day, until your morning run will likely be completely in the dark.
What are your thoughts so far?
If you run in the early morning, be sure to invest in a headlamp to help you see and be seen. I have Petzl Tikkinawhich I bought last year because Petzl has a reputation for being reliable and the Tikkina is one of the more affordable models. This has worked great for me, so I'll probably use it this year. battery which fits in place of three AAA cells. The battery is designed to perform well even in cold conditions, which will come in handy. Also consider wearing bright colors, a reflective vest or even something similar. Knoxgear Tracer to ensure good visibility on the side of the road. I have a neon pink jacket that I can wear on cold, dark mornings.
At the gym, remember that the rhythm of the place will change. There will be a different group of regulars, and it may be more or less busy than you are used to. But even if it's the same, there's something luxurious about being able to take your time when normally you'd have to squeeze the last few exercises together and rush to work. Enjoy this extra hour.
