For those of us in college, getting up for 8ams may be one of the most difficult things we do. I know it’s often so tempting to snatch an extra hour or two of sleep and skip that morning class or not show up for a meeting you scheduled on a Saturday morning. While sleep is super important, it’s also important to start your day off on the correct foot. If you aren’t already, follow some of these simple steps to become a better morning person. Disclaimer: I am not advising you to get up at 5am every day. No one likes to do that.
Stop hitting snooze
The biggest issue with not dealing with mornings well is how often we hit the snooze button. For a long time in college, I’d set an alarm for when I would ideally get up, but then have two more, up until the last possible minute I could wake up without being late for class. Without fail, you end up waiting until that last alarm and then rushing around to get ready, then remember you left your curling iron on and forgot your phone when you’re sitting in class. Set your alarm for when you’ll have plenty of time to get ready and make yourself get up then. It won’t be hard after a couple of weeks.
Exercise
A good way to wake yourself up and stay motivated to not go back to sleep is to exercise. Do some morning yoga poses or a quick set of abs. You’ll feel more alert after you get your blood rushing and you’ll keep yourself healthier!
Get ready and stay away from bed
Another key aspect to conquering your morning is making sure you stay away from your bed once you get up. I used to always like to lay back down after getting out of the shower, but this is a surefire way to waste time half asleep and dreading going to class. Once you get out of bed, make your bed (so you won’t get back in it), and get ready for the day ahead. You won’t want to crawl into bed after you just did your make-up and put on your clothes.
Eat something
People say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but personally, I tend to avoid eating in the mornings. I kicked this fasting habit once I started commuting to work, because I had a long car ride and I read that apples can wake you up better than coffee (which I don’t drink). So now, I like to have an apple or other piece of fruit in the morning. It forces me to eat fruit at least once during the day, and it gives me a burst of energy.
Do something you enjoy
Do you ever get to the end of the day and feel too tired to do something you enjoy? The morning is a great time to get something done for yourself instead of putting it off until the end of the day. Take time in your morning to write your thoughts down in a diary, do a devotional or meditation, or listen to some calming music while drinking tea. You’ll start your day off on a calm note and feel ready to tackle whatever the day has in store.