Let’s be honest, we all have that one person who stays up way past midnight even if they don’t have homework to finish. Any of my friends could tell you that I used to be that person. I am not a morning person in the slightest, and elect to hit the snooze on my alarm until the very last second. I have always been more of a night owl and will gladly stay up past midnight binging a TV show or learning a new hobby.
Waking up for my morning classes was far from an easy task, but creating a morning routine completely changed the game. A morning routine sets up your day to be the best that it can be and I’m going to share what my own morning routine entails so that you can form your own.
1. Your Morning Routine Starts the Day Before
Whenever you have to wake up early for any reason, your morning routine starts the day before. To save time in the morning and make sure I don’t forget any materials for my morning classes, I make sure to pack my bag with everything I need for the day the night before. It’s easy to forget something like a laptop charger or a notebook in your dorm if you’re rushing to get to class while feeling groggy and tired. I also set out my workout clothes and day outfit to save me time in the morning! Even though it’s only saving you five minutes by setting everything out the night before, you’re less likely to forget something important and you can sleep a little longer. Which segues into my next point. . .
2. Make Sure You’re Getting the Adequate Amount of Sleep for YOU
While this may seem like common sense, one of the biggest keys to waking up early in college is actually getting an adequate amount of sleep! I don’t necessarily mean you need to aim for 8-9 hours a night because not all people need a lot of sleep to feel well-rested the next day. For example, I go to bed around midnight every night and wake up at 6am because for me to feel well-rested the next day, I only need 6 hours of sleep a day.
3. Put Your Alarm Across the Room
I wake up at 6am to the alarm on my phone going off across the room. The night before, I set my phone on the other side of the room so that I have to physically get out of bed to turn it off. This small act of getting out of bed to turn off your alarm requires you to move and makes you less likely to fall back asleep after turning off your alarm.
4. Make Your Bed
What is more tempting than a warm bed? Not much. Making your bed in the morning will not only discourage you from jumping back into bed but it also starts off your morning by finishing a task. U.S. Navy Admiral, William H. McRaven gave a speech stating that “If You Want to Change the World, Start Off by Making Your Bed” and it goes into more detail about the other positive effects that go along with making your bed.
5. Get Active
Getting active, whether by going for a quick run around campus or some type of weight training can help improve cognition and reduce anxiety. Even if it’s only a 15-30 minute activity, getting active in the morning can further wake you up for your classes and even improve your interactions with others in the morning.
6. Speak Positive Affirmations and Journal!
The last thing to my morning routine after taking a shower is to speak positive affirmations and journal. It may sound weird but giving yourself a compliment in front of the mirror will start off your day making you feel empowered, strong, and confident. Again, it may sound a little cheesy but you have to remind yourself of who you are so that you don’t forget. Journaling in the morning can also help you plan out your day and talk about things that may be stressing you out. Doing this in the mornings literally sets up my day to be the best that it can possibly be.
Mornings can really suck especially if you’re more of a night owl but forming a morning routine can drastically make your mornings more enjoyable which will improve the rest of your day. It will take a couple weeks to make your routine consistent but eventually it will make your mornings more enjoyable and those morning classes a little more manageable.