For me, the journey to becoming a morning exerciser has been paved with privilege and circumstance more than discipline and mental tricks. I never--not in a million years--thought I'd be a morning exercise person, but, when I was living in Miami, a good friend belonged to an exercise group that met on Thursdays at 6; she convinced me to come along. I had no intention of going regularly, but the comradery the group extended--and the quality of the coach they worked with--convinced me to go back the next week. Over the next year or two, I slowly expanded my early-morning habit until eventually I was getting up every day to work out before sunrise.While the workout group and some gentle peer pressure were all it took for me to change my habits, other circumstances helped: first, for much of the year in Miami, outdoor workouts are miserable in the afternoons or evenings, and second, I had a deadline- and event-driven job. Had I needed to arrive promptly at an office in person, or commute through traffic, even 6 a.m. workouts would have been a trick. To sum up: I had the right job, right location, right people, and right coach. Without all that, I'd never have been able to change my habits around. I'm glad I did, but I'd never judge someone for being unable to pull it off.

For me, the journey to becoming a morning exerciser has been paved with privilege and circumstance more than discipline and mental tricks. I never--not in a million years--thought I'd be a morning exercise person, but, when I was living in Miami, a good friend belonged to an exercise group that met on Thursdays at 6; she convinced me to come along. I had no intention of going regularly, but the comradery the group extended--and the quality of the coach they worked with--convinced me to go back the next week. Over the next year or two, I slowly expanded my early-morning habit until eventually I was getting up every day to work out before sunrise.While the workout group and some gentle peer pressure were all it took for me to change my habits, other circumstances helped: first, for much of the year in Miami, outdoor workouts are miserable in the afternoons or evenings, and second, I had a deadline- and event-driven job. Had I needed to arrive promptly at an office in person, or commute through traffic, even 6 a.m. workouts would have been a trick. To sum up: I had the right job, right location, right people, and right coach. Without all that, I'd never have been able to change my habits around. I'm glad I did, but I'd never judge someone for being unable to pull it off.

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