As a college student who works, my mornings are never the same, and most days I don’t get to follow the same routine. The basics I try to do every morning are drink water, take my medicine, eat breakfast, and have a cup of coffee. The older I get, the slower I move in the mornings, and I’m not sure if that’s because of a lack of urgency or because I simply am always tired. Regardless, one of the things which have helped me take care of myself and keep up with my schoolwork is my tried and true routine. This is easier said than done. I do have work at 5:45 AM some mornings and at 9:45 AM other mornings. Anyone who works and goes to school probably knows the struggle I go through. If I don’t go to bed early enough, I have a hard time getting up. But if I don’t go to bed late, I can’t get all of the work I need to do done. I work three times a week, with most of my days being double shifts and I also work Saturday and Sunday alternating weeks. Yes, I am being exploited, I’m aware. I’m not happy about it, and in small ways, I do what I can to take back the narrative and my power; I do this by finding time for myself. My morning routine is one of those ways.
MOVE AROUND & LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR BODY NEEDS
I try to wake up with enough time to nourish myself, and I am not a morning gym person, meaning my movement has to start some other way. If I have time, I stretch, do some yoga, and get a feel of how my body and mind are doing. I don’t do this every morning. In fact, I rarely have the time to do it, but when I have the opportunity, I slow down and take it! Some mornings all I want to do is roll out of bed, clean my face, brush my teeth, and go to class. However, when I do this, I get a headache and I’m lethargic all day. I don’t believe in intermittent fasting, and getting into the habit of skipping meals is not good. Even when I have a week where I don’t have a large budget for groceries, things like oatmeal, bananas, hard-boiled eggs, a bagel, or even a Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwich are far better than nothing and they are not very expensive. You can make a large pot of oatmeal at the beginning of the week, and boil some eggs. Oatmeal is my go-to because it can be sweet or savory and is full of fiber. If you are someone who “doesn’t get hungry in the morning,” take it to go. I just encourage you to be thoughtful of yourself. Take care of yourself because you deserve it.
START JOURNALING, SERIOUSLY ACTUALLY YES FOR REAL
I’m so sorry. I know everyone says this, but I mean it. I don’t journal every day, but in my journey to improve myself, I have learned my journal works as a mediator for my worries, my ideas, or as a creative outlet. It’s another way I check up on myself. I learned that I have flexibility on when, where, and how much time I take on the activity. There’s no pressure for it to be perfect and I know I’m not getting a grade so I have the opportunity to be as emotionally vulnerable as I want. A lot of tension can be released from this.
COOK MORE, AND GO OUTSIDE TO TOUCH GRASS
In the evenings when I don’t have schoolwork or work, I will make myself my favorite meal and enjoy it no matter how my day went, or how much I have eaten. One way I have done this is by cooking and it has quickly become extremely therapeutic and influential in my relationship with food and diet culture. This culture we all know is notorious for using shame and guilt to control us; it can influence our perceptions of gender, class, and race which leads to harm. I don’t feel shame for feeding my body or guilty about my indulgences. My body is complicated and requires energy to sustain every function I have. I won’t be successful in my studies or my personal fitness goals if I am not giving myself what I need. As young people in a society that tells us how to look, what to eat, what to feel etc., we start to buy into it. The consumption of products is fun, but I encourage you to think about your consumption of media and beauty standards. Never let someone you have never met, who has no idea you exist and what you struggle with, make you feel bad about yourself. Who cares what they think, be an advocate for yourself. Cook for yourself, feed your soul and mind, and your community.
I pair going outside with cooking because of photosynthesis. I’ve heard this many times before that we are just like plants. We can’t grow and thrive without our nutrients! Being inside is something we are confined to more and more. As kids, we have recess time for only 30 minutes to an hour. As adults, we sit at our desks for 8 hours a day, or we are in the library for hours on end with our heads in the books. In other cases, people work all day on their feet as essential workers; driving cargo, making food, stocking groceries, and many more jobs I can’t list. The entire American population has created either two jobs: hyper-sedentary jobs or jobs where you never rest. Either way, you get exploited and overworked. There is a reason we are all happier in the summertime (most of us).
Be a tree hugger and go outside. Even for a 10-minute walk or outside on a balcony doing your school work. Nature is healing and we must treasure and preserve this. With sunlight also comes water. You need it to live so when you can, drink water or swap another cup of coffee or energy drink for water. Chances are you will be more energized. Take care of yourself, and establish routines to help you maintain your health, don’t let the ruling class win!