The life of a college student can be stressful and tiring. Between academics, extracurriculars and balancing a social life, it can seem that there’s no time left for yourself. If this is something you can relate to or are just looking for ways to get the most out of your day stay tuned. Theses are a few steps you can incorporate into your morning routine that will help you start your day off more energized and in a more positive mindset.
Wake Up Early
In order to start your day off right and to get the most out of it, the first step is to wake up early. Many successful people are early birds- waking up early allows you to have more time in the day to be productive. So set your alarm and make sure that you wake up when it goes off (don’t keep pressing snooze). Plan to wake up accordingly with your schedule; I usually try to set my alarm for either 6am or 7am depending on when my first class starts, so that I have plenty of time to do everything that I have to do. Once you wake up, sit up in bed to make sure you don’t fall back asleep and take a few moments to meditate, this can allow you to connect with your inner self and start the morning off with a positive mindset. Find what works for you; this could be taking a few deep breaths or thinking about things that you are thankful for.
Exercise
Next, get your body moving; if you normally take part in a regular gym sessions try going in the morning and have a plan of what you are going to do prior to getting to the gym. If going to the gym regularly isn’t something that you usually do then just take a few minutes to stretch and do some simple exercises in your room. Some ideas of what you could do could be 15 push-ups or a minute of planking with static stretching. This doesn’t have to be super intense- just enough to get your blood pumping!
Normal Morning Routine
After you get your blood pumping you can then do all the things you would normally do in the morning such as brushing your teeth, flossing, washing your face, showering, applying lotion, etc. (If you are going to the gym, then some of these activities may occur in a different order).
Eat a Healthy Breakfast
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and starting your day off with the right foods has been shown to positively kickstart your energy levels and mood. Whether you take a trip to the dining hall or make your own breakfast, try to incorporate some sort of nutrients into your meal. It can be helpful to use a food tracking app or keep a journal. This can help you become more aware of what types of food you are consuming and what you are lacking. Also make sure to remember to drink water throughout the day, as it is easy to forget and become dehydrated. This can lead to binge eating and headaches.
Write Lists
Another thing to incorporate into your morning routine is to create lists, this can be one list or several separate lists of goals and work to accomplish throughout the day. Personally, I found that having one for my school work, one for my gym routine and one for my personal goals was the most effective for me. Creating lists can remind you of your responsibilities and allow you to keep on track with your work. It is also a great way to help create some organization in what can tend to be a complicated and busy life.
Be consistent!
Trying these steps can be difficult at first but if you keep persisting you will eventually be able to incorporate them into your daily morning routine. Consistency is key to getting the most out of your day.
Megan Phillips ’22
Publications Coordinator