Achieving your fitness goals is not complicated—it all comes down to a few basic principles of healthy living. However, it is easy to miss out on those goals if you don’t get your morning routine correct. The morning is one of the most important times of the day when it comes to forming healthy habits, and if you are making mistakes in the AM, it could be sabotaging all your hard work. Here are the top bad habits that you should avoid when you are trying to reach your health and fitness goals.

Not Waking Up Early Enough

The most important thing you can do for your health and fitness goals is getting up at a reasonable time in the morning. When you don’t give yourself enough time to get ready and start your day, it can lead to a lot of problems. Not only are you more likely to miss out on important tasks like meal prepping, but you might also be skipping out on essential exercise. When possible, try and wake up an hour earlier so you can use that extra time wisely.

Sleeping Too Long

It might seem like sleeping for longer is beneficial for your health, but the truth is that it can hurt your overall fitness efforts. When you sleep for too long, it can cause you to feel sluggish and unmotivated during the day. Additionally, it can throw off your regular sleeping pattern and make it harder to get to sleep at night. If you are sleeping for more than 9 hours every night, it may be time to set a better morning routine and take steps to reduce your excess snoozing.

Not Drinking Enough Water

Drinking water is essential for not only your overall health, but also for helping to reach your fitness goals. When you wake up, it is important to drink at least a glass of water—this helps to rehydrate your body and wake up your metabolism. Not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration, which can cause a decrease in performance during workouts, and can also decrease your energy levels throughout the day. Make sure you drink plenty of water every morning.

Skipping Breakfast

When it comes to reaching your fitness goals, breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. Studies have shown that skipping breakfast can lead to overeating later in the day, so it can be detrimental to your diet. Make sure you eat something in the morning, even if it is just a small meal – it will provide your body with the energy it needs to start the day.

Checking Your Phone First Thing

We all love to scroll through our phones in the mornings, but it can do more harm than good. When you spend too much time on your phone first thing, it can be distracting and it can impact your productivity throughout the day. If you are having trouble getting yourself out of bed and working on your fitness goals, try and limit your phone usage in the morning.

Not Working Out In the Morning

Most people are not morning exercisers, but it could be beneficial for your health and fitness goals. Studies have shown that working out in the morning can help to boost your metabolism, and it also helps to jump start your day. If you are trying to make more progress in your fitness goals, you may want to try and fit in a morning workout.

Not Planning Your Day

If you want to stay on top of your health and fitness goals, planning is key. When you make a plan for the day, it helps to keep you focused and it also helps to keep your motivation up. Plan out your meals, your workouts, and your daily tasks, so that you stay organized and on track.

Not Setting a Routine

Creating a routine is essential when it comes to reaching your goals. It helps to form a habit and make sure you are doing everything you need to reach your goals. Make sure you have a regular wake up time, and set times for eating, working out, and getting to bed. Setting a routine will help to make sure that you reach your goals.

Your morning routine can be a major factor when it comes to achieving your fitness goals. Taking small steps each day can make a huge difference, but it is also important to avoid certain bad habits. Try to stay away from snoozing your alarm, over sleeping, skipping meals, and not planning your day—these behaviors can sabotage all your hard work. If you get your morning routine right, it will be a huge help in reaching your fitness goals.