Start Your Day with a Workout

We’ve often discussed the importance of routine in this blog. Top performing agents often cite their adherence to a strict daily routine as the key to their success. Of course, everyone’s routine will be different. Some start the day in quiet solitude, perhaps reading or with meditation to prepare themselves for the challenges ahead. Many work closely with accountability partners to role-play before hitting the phones.Another staple to the morning routine of many top performers is exercise. The benefits of exercise are well-documented. Still, many people find it difficult to force themselves out of bed to spend time running or lifting weights. It’s too much effort, especially on those mornings when the rain or cold makes their bed even that much more cozy.Well, if you’re one of those agents who see morning exercise as pure drudgery, perhaps you might want to reconsider. There is ample evidence to suggest that a good morning workout routine provides myriad benefits and can have a truly positive impact on your daily performance. Let’s walk through some of the benefits:

1. Despite what you may think, a morning workout actually results in lower calorie consumption during the day. A Brigham Young study revealed that a morning workout reduces the appeal of food. Another study by Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise focused on women, finding that 45 minutes of morning exercise actually made images of food less appetizing during the day.
2. Morning exercise is great for burning fat, especially if you are working out on an empty stomach. According to the British Journal of Nutrition, working out on an empty stomach burned as much as 20 percent more fat than a post-meal workout.
3. A heart-pumping morning workout can result in lower blood pressure. We all know that real estate sales can be stressful, which makes morning exercise all the more logical. According to a study from Appalachian State University, those who work out for at least 30 minutes each morning (compared to either midday or early evening exercise), show a 10 percent reduction in blood pressure. But the better news is that their blood pressure actually drops throughout the day, hitting a low of 25 percent by the evening.
4. A morning workout builds muscle more efficiently. The National Institute for Fitness & Sport found that your testosterone level is at its highest in the morning, which optimizes strength-training programs.
5. Morning exercise minimizes the change of getting diabetes. In a study in the Journal of Physiology, participants who exercise before eating showed improved glucose intolerance an insulin sensitivity compared to those who consumed carbs either before or during a workout.
6. A morning workout leads to improved sleep. A National Sleep Foundation study revealed that morning exercise leads to deeper, longer and higher quality sleep than if you work out later in the day or even in the evening.
7. Morning exercise results in a better mood. The Brigham Young study mentioned above also found that a morning workout helps you stay more active and focused throughout the day.
8. Your mental health improves through morning exercise. One study by the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public health found that major depression can be reduced by as much as 26 percent with just 15 minutes of running. Exercise also reduces anxiety, relieves tension and stress, boosts physical and mental energy and generally enhances well-being.

If you don’t currently exercise in the morning, you might want to reconsider. A good, heart-pumping workout might energize you, and improve your frame-of-mind as you face the day ahead. In particular, it can help give you the confidence that is so important to be successful when prospecting.