Wake up your health first thing

Not only does waking up to daylight prompt biological responses that make you feel more energetic and alert it also provides you with the extra dose of willpower needed to forgo the snooze button in of some much needed ‘me time’.

Unfortunately, we can’t all be morning people, but getting into the habit of focusing on your health first thing, can help to put you in the right frame of mind to tackle the day ahead. And, give you more time to focus on social activities in the evening.

Yes, it can be challenging to make time to work on your mental and physical wellbeing, but a quick morning workout or meditation session can lead to an increase in productivity, enhanced sleep and increased metabolism.

So, instead of gearing up for hibernation mode, check out our suggestions for ways you can take advantage of the clocks going back. Oh, and don’t forget those extra 60 minutes in bed at the weekend - it doesn’t get much better than that.

Fuel Your Day the Right Way

If your usual breakfast routine consists of grabbing a coffee-to-go and little else, then use the lighter mornings as motivation to prepare a proper meal.

Eating a nutritious breakfast sets the tone for the day, giving you the energy required to take on both physical and mental tasks. Plus, it helps to curb those mid-morning cravings that leave you reaching for the biscuit tin.

Whip up a batch of protein pancake batter the night before and leave it in the fridge for a quick, easy, feel-good breakfast. Or, if you’re a little more adventurous, head over to our blog for some innovative breakfast recipes created by Soulmatefood.

Whether you’re headed for circuit or working on your gains, the tailored recipes will help you to smash your session - and they taste a whole lot better than a bowl of sugary cereal.

Work Up a Sweat

Working out in the morning is difficult at the best of times, but forcing yourself out of a warm bed when it’s dark outside is almost impossible.

While the mornings are brighter, help yourself to wake up by hitting the gym. We offer a range of early morning classes from 30 minutes upwards, which will leave your body balanced, pumped up and dripping in sweat.

And, once it’s all over you don’t have to worry about making yourself look presentable for work. Our luxury changing rooms and complimentary toiletries will take the stress out of your morning routine.

In fact, we’ll even iron your clothes and throw in a free coffee if you’re a Collection Club member.

Kickstart Your Brain

If early morning exercising isn’t your thing, morning meditation is a great way to relieve some stress and change the way your brain and your body interact.

Helping to fight anxiety and depression, boost energy and promote a sense of calm, you don’t need to enroll in a day-long workshop, or surround yourself with crystals and incense to reap the benefits of this mindful technique.

With so many resources readily available, just hop onto YouTube or download an app like Headspace or Smiling Mind, and within minutes you’ll be ready to go.

Start off with guided sessions for 5 or 10 minutes a day, and once you’ve pushed past the initial struggle to switch off, you’ll find yourself looking forward to your daily practice.

By the time the mornings become darker again, with your new positive attitude you won’t even notice. Ok, we can’t guarantee that, but you won’t know if you don’t try.

Get a Taste of the Outdoors

Hitting the streets for a run as the sun rises can have a positive effect on your health and overall wellbeing.

Aside from helping to lower blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, running outdoors produces higher measures of enthusiasm, pleasure self-esteem, while the uneven and unpredictable terrain forces the body to exert more energy, which burns more calories.

The perfect time of day to avoid traffic, crowds and unwanted distractions, try mixing up your route in order to fend off boredom. And, if you really want to enhance your workout, add in some hill sprints, or stop off at a bench to incorporate jumps, dips lunges.

With the daylight out in force, choose a scenic route to take your mind off the hard work. Of course, if the morning is just that little bit too cold, a trot on the treadmill won’t hurt either.