For the last three years of college, getting into a routine has felt nigh on impossible. Since UCR runs on a quarter system, it felt a little pointless for me to invest time in a routine that I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to follow through on ten weeks later. As a result, my morning would just be eating something (sometimes), brushing my teeth (or chewing some gum while running out the door) and brushing my hair (or just throwing it into a sloppy ponytail). Although I’ve had set bedtimes and wake up times every quarter, finding the extra time to start and end the day off right has felt like one extra stress it shouldn’t be.
This quarter, I’m fortunate that all of my classes start after 1pm, which has meant my mornings are free to fill up as I wish. I’ve been able to enjoy a bowl of cereal for breakfast, to wash my face and do my hair, and even enjoy a half hour of my favorite online game that I’ve played since middle school (don’t lie and tell me that taking care of virtual horses isn’t a blast, because it is). I’m able to spend some quality time with my pet fish and take note of what things I need to get done that day. It’s been a nice, calm way to start my days off, and I’m honestly kicking myself for not getting on it sooner because of the benefits I’ve noticed after just a few weeks. I feel more in control of how I spend my time, I feel like I start each day with a positive outlook, and I’m able to gauge how much energy I have to get certain things done.
However, it’s no good having just a morning routine without a strong night routine as well. Maybe you relate— before, I would be up till midnight or even 1am sitting at my desk, doing homework, probably eating a microwave meal while doing a reading, and then throwing myself into bed after brushing my teeth and telling myself I’d wash my face in the morning (spoiler alert: never did). I’d feel tense, exhausted, and honestly,like I hadn’t been productive at all because I was so tired. This was only made worse when I had my dining hall job and would get home after a night shift around 11pm and still needed to shower and eat.
Now, though, I’ve set aside two whole hours in my evening, 10pm-12pm, to do nothing but things that relax me. I do my dental and facial cleansing routines, do a free yoga flow on YouTube (these channels offer some of my favorites) and read until midnight. I turn on a sleep meditation audio using my favorite meditation app, Insight Timer, and then I drift right off.
I understand that having two whole hours is a privilege, and is something not everyone in college is able to do. The same goes for those who might have 8am classes, or commute; to take that time to set up a routine might feel chaotic or even unfathomable, like it did for me for so long. And to those people I say, be gentle with yourself. If you’re able to find even one small thing that helps you feel prepared for your day, take it– if not, make sure you at least aren’t working yourself towards burnout by finding time in your day to disconnect from the laundry list of things you need to get done.
Self-care is something that every single person tells you you need to do in college, but it doesn’t need to be a full skincare routine and a candle. Set boundaries for your homework hours, get as much sleep as you are able to, and make sure that you put yourself first. As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Make sure to make some time for yourself and not completely get lost in the shuffle of college life.