This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Toronto chapter.

It is the start of another school year, and as usual, during this first week, everyone has their act together. However, this doesn’t last too long and soon enough, we find ourselves rushing to class 15 minutes late, with mismatched clothes and unattractive facial sweat from all the running we did to get to class “on time”.

But enough is enough. You’ve been through it all so why not try it all differently this year? Try out these tips to create and perfect a morning routine that would set you apart for the rest of the school year.

Get this app!

I have tried and tested various apps that claim to help you get an early start on the day, but the kiwake app is the only one that has actually worked for me. I have been using the kiwake alarm over the past year and it has saved me from missing many morning meetings and classes. If you’re like me, you are a little too friendly with your snooze button, this app guarantees that it will “drive you out of bed whether you want it or not!”

Drink Up!

I’ve read a lot of articles that suggest drinking water first thing in the morning upon waking up. Although this piece of advice hasn’t really worked for me, who knows, it might be just the thing you need to get up early in the morning, even on those snowy winter days. One thing that has been working on me, is having cranberry or orange juice on my nightstand. Although it is important to properly hydrate with water daily, drinking either of the two juices helps jolt me up and infuse me with the right vitamins I need to start my day.

Race to the finish

I have a morning routine playlist on Spotify that lasts for about 30 mins, which is about the time it takes me to get ready in the morning. Once I’m up, I start the playlist and challenge myself to finish up my morning routine by the end of the last song. This helps me stay on track, while challenging myself. For example, how many songs will it take for me to brush my teeth versus fixing my hair? This is a great tip as it helps to put you in the best mood for the day ahead.

Fix yo’ Bed

Not only is this a good morning habit to have because it helps you have a neatly laid out bed to come back to at night, it is also helpful for your morning routine. Although I love the look of a nicely laid bed, having to do it many times in the day is not fun. Rather than putting it off as the last thing to do right before I leave for classes, I now fix my bed once I get up. This helps resist the urge to jump back into bed, simply because I don’t want to have to make it look nice again.

Multitask

Rather than showering and thinking about all the mistakes you’ve made in your life, think about what you’re going to wear. I’ve realized that when I’ve spent some time to think about a task in my head, it becomes less exhausting when I actually have to perform the task. So, instead of staring at your phone when brushing your teeth in the morning, mentally picture yourself getting dressed and walking out of the house looking like the fierce diva you are. You’re less likely to forget something at home this way!

Get a Uniform

The word uniform brings back not so fond high school memories. However, I’m not talking about boring pinafore colours, but rather have your own style of clothing that you’ll wear every week. For example, for me, Mondays are jeans and t-shirt or sweater type of days, Those are usually the days where I’m the busiest, so I like to be comfortable. Apart from having a uniform, also colour code. Although this might not work for everyone, I try to keep my clothes monotone and this helps me focus more on style and fit vs worrying if orange goes with blue. Does it? Check out this example of my go-to “school uniform”.

No Wing Liners

Unless you’re an absolute pro in the wing liner department, I advise you to steer clear of this beauty trend. College mornings are the not the time to try that new Pinterest hack with some funny diagram. It is helpful to have a small purse with morning makeup essentials like this amazing moisturizer, a waterproof mascara for your #UofTears, and a tinted gloss or nude matte lipstick that you love. Practice a makeup look that makes you look awake in the shortest amount of time possible, using your Spotify playlist as a guide.

Practice makes perfect. Although applying these tips just once will transform your morning and most likely your day, it is best to constantly practice them until they become second nature. Trust me, it’s worth it!

References

https://lovelace-media.imgix.net/uploads/8/2b618c40-16bd-0133-f50d-0e185…

http://www.beautyheaven.com.au/sites/default/files/inline/Mascara%20Hack…

http://memesvault.com/wp-content/uploads/Challenge-Accepted-Gif-Barney-1…

http://cdn3.gurl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/making-your-bed-gif.gif

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/2106776/images/o-MULTITASKING-facebook.jpg