I’m Not a Morning Person, but These 10 Products Make It Possible for Me to Hit the Gym by 7 AM

I have never been a morning person. That’s to say, if you try waking me up in the morning or ask me questions too early in the a.m., I will turn into a gremlin version of myself (just ask my partner and various semi-traumatized friends).  That being said, I’ve always aspired to be a morning person and actually really enjoy exercising before work for an energy boost…and, if I’m being honest, so I can get it out of the way and not dread it the rest of the day.  

Pre-pandemic, I always exercised before work—whether it was my trusty three-mile loop or a barre class with a studio on the way to the office. But after the past few years, it seemed impossible to wake myself up that early.  After lots of hemming and hawing, I finally decided to rejoin a gym and hold myself accountable—but I needed a plan.  

To set myself up for success, I put together what I call my “go-bag.” It’s everything I need to get ready and go straight from home to the gym to work.  The idea was I needed to make things as streamlined and easy as possible so I could roll out of bed and set out without being fully awake.  I also make sure to pack up my lunch so I can just grab it from the fridge on the way out, as well as lay out gym clothes to throw on.  The most important (for me, at least) thing I do the night before is to pick out my outfit—scrambling to choose something at six in the morning is not fun and usually ends up in a bit of a disaster, in my opinion! 

Shop all of my trusty essentials (think: shower shoes, water bottles, and glass food containers) for keeping to your gym routine doable before you set out to the office!

10 Products I Keep in My “Go-Bag”

L.L.Bean Nor’easter Tote Bag

First things first—this is my favorite heavy-duty bag that will withstand the elements and LOTS of wear and tear. Honestly, I only trust L.L.Bean when it comes to sturdy, lasts-forever quality in work/gym/travel totes.  I’ve had their Hunter’s Tote forever (a perennial favorite of editors and stylists), and I wear their smaller Boat and Tote…everywhere.  This one has a waxed bottom and crossbody straps, so I can schlepp all of my gym stuff without killing one side of my body. Bonus: add a fun monogram for a cheeky touch—mine says Banana (of Hannah Banana fame). 

Cadence Travel Containers

It’s probably impossible you’ve never seen these before, but for the newly initiated, these magnetic containers are the GOAT of travel products.  Fully leak-proof (believe me, I’ve put them through a lot), they also work great for getting ready at the gym, so I don’t have to worry about bringing unreliable travel-sized bottles. I can decant my fave beauty essentials to the gym—like CosRX Snail Mucin Power Essence to Pixie Glow Tonic—with not a spill or mess in sight. They come in a ton of colors and have interchangeable magnetic labels for quickly IDing what you need. 

Cadence Parcel Clear Dopp Kit

Conveniently, Cadence made a clever, sleek, and simple dopp kit to help hold all of those capsules.  It’s translucent, so I can quickly grab what I need to shower without holding up the line, and the magnetic closure (because of course, it’s magnetic! Genius!) is sturdy while also being extremely satisfying to open and shut.  When it starts to get a little grimy, I just wash it out with a bit of dish soap and let air dry—easy peasy! 

Calpak Shoe Cubes

These shoe cubes are exactly the right size to pack an outfit in one and a pair of shoes in the other.  Even in the winter, when more layers and bulk are required! They’re also waterproof, so I can throw my post-workout clothes in them and not feel yucky about it.  When I get home in the evening, I just hang the clothes up to dry before tossing them in the wash,  and I put the bags through the laundry about once a week or more.  

Cozy Earth Bamboo and Cotton Waffle Bath Wrap

Because I find that gym-provided shower towels can sometimes be so-so or too small, I like bringing my own option.  This is the perfect solution—it’s super lightweight, so it doesn’t weigh down my bag; it dries really quickly and works as both a quick patdown towel fresh out of the shower as well as something to wear while I dry my hair before getting dressed and doing my makeup.  By the time I finish drying my hair, the wrap is almost completely dry, which works out perfectly for re-packing in one of the waterproof shoe bags. As soon as I get home after work, I’ll also hang this up, but usually, it’s pretty dry anyway. 

CHI Vibes Garment Steamer

I use my regular-sized steamer (I’m obsessed with this under-$40 one that gets the job done quickly and is aesthetically pleasing) for my clothes almost every single day, but bringing it to the gym would be cumbersome and take up too much space in my tote.  I came across this mini one from CHI—a brand you probably mainly know for their hair appliances—and decided to give it a spin.  It’s perfect! Lightweight and super compact for toting around—plus it heats up quickly so I don’t waste time in the locker room.  

W&P Seal Tight Food Storage Container

I love the size and look of this little guy. It’s the Goldilocks of food containers IMO (it’s jusssst right). I pre-pack my lunch in it the night before, and it’s the only thing I have to remember to grab outside of my go-bag. The glass is slightly heavier than some of the other food containers I have, but not enough so that it makes much of a difference when I’m carrying it.  I’ve brought soups and salads to work in it and never had an incident with spills.  Plus, glass over plastic is always a good call, health-wise—especially if you’re heating your lunch in the microwave.  

Geometry Magna Towel

What’s better than a fast-drying gym towel? A fast-drying gym towel with a magnet attached so that you can pop it on the side of cardio and weight machines! Not only does the strong magnet keep your towel from falling onto the floor (yuck), it also makes it easy to grab if you’re in the middle of a tough interval or set.  I love this sunset-y colorway; it soothes me while I’m working hard.

RTIC Outback Bottle

RTIC makes some of my favorite water bottles and tumblers. I particularly love this one for the gym, partially because of the price point but mainly because it keeps my water nice and cold, comes in tons of colors (for those of us who are especially picky), and has a strap for easy grabbing and carrying around from station to station. Plus, you can personalize these with a custom lid color! 

Birkenstock Arizona Essentials Slide-On Sandal 

The number one rule for showering at the gym, regardless of how clean it is, is to make sure you have shower shoes.  With all of the people going in and out of the locker room, there’s no telling what kind of yuckiness is living on the floors. Eek! My shower sandals of choice are everyone’s favorite EVA Arizona Birks—they’re reliable, I can wear them outside of the gym if I want, and they’re dry by the time I finish doing my hair.