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

During a time of online classes and working from home, getting a warm and overstayed sleep is tempting. Of course, sometimes we deserve to sleep in on the weekend after a long week of work. However, resisting the temptation to oversleep and becoming a morning person is life changing and can aid with self care, improved mental health, and developing a healthy lifestyle.

For starters, be thankful

Before you consider becoming a morning person, you should reflect and be thankful for the privilege of waking up early in the morning. You are able to wake up out of your bed, open the blinds, and look outside to a shining sun. You have the privilege of being in your body, which is able to perform tasks, no matter how small. Becoming a morning person is a way to thank your body for pumping blood and waking you up that morning and allowing you to live a new day.

Create your routine

Setting a solid routine is key to gaining the benefits of becoming a morning person. The new routine aids in improving mental health. Of course, there is no solution to mental health problems. However, establishing a routine is better than having no routine or purpose to your days. Setting a routine, such as an alarm for waking up at 8:00am or having your mug placed under the coffee machine promotes motivation and routine. Setting an alarm within the same time bracket is key to becoming a morning person. Of course, it is not fair to start at 5:00am unless needed. These early times are often promoted on social media such as TikTok. Doing an intense cardio workout or getting all your assignments done within 5:00am to 7:00am is not necessary. These extremely early times are unrealistic and can turn you off from waking up early. 

Have a morning focus

After your reasonably timed alarm goes off, having a task set up is a good way to get out of bed. It can be hard to get up from your warm bed without a purpose. Whether it be reviewing readings for your morning class, doing an at-home workout such as yoga, weights or stretches, or even self care routines like skincare of showering. An easy way of setting your task is having your homework, weights or skincare set up already. Waking up without a set task will stop you from having the motivation to wake up early.

Avoid draining habits

Caution from looking at social media as the first thing done from waking up. Your serotonin will be used for that morning and will keep you tired during the rest of your day. Resist the temptation and instead, play some music or listen to a podcast while starting your morning. You will notice a huge difference in your mood for the rest of the day. If you are searching for a comedic listen that is relatable and mature, “Sofia with an F” is an excellent choice. Sofia Franklyn delves into her dating and friendship life, crazy stories and life advice with guests of different ages and sexualities. A recommendation for an uplifting podcast is “Lightworkers Lounge,” which promotes healing and motivation.

What will you gain?

Life during a pandemic can often seem monotonous and repetitive. We go through a cycle of waking up, watching a class and possibly going to work. Allotting some time in the morning for yourself to do self care, work or other chores frees time to unwind later during the day. Unwinding can mean seeing your friends safely, watching a TV show, or self-care. 

Becoming a morning person allows you to say, “I did the most I could today. I enjoyed this day and all it had to offer me.” By waking up early, you will see how much of the day is missed by sleeping in until noon, and not being productive until late afternoon. Again, becoming a morning person is not a cure for life’s problems or genuine mental health problems. But, doing the most for yourself is a way to delve into self love and making the most out of your situation.

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Francesca Ceresoli is a part time writer at the Her Campus York University chapter. She covers entertainment and culture, experiences and wellness. She is pursuing her second year of Bachelor of Education in the intermediate/senior divisions, with subject areas in english and social science. She aspires to teach high school and eventually, post-secondary education. She is currently writing a short story collection and a novel. She is interested in writing about themes of nature, ecofeminism and psychological dramas. During her free time, Francesca loves doing yoga, playing with her dog, spending time with her friends, and the show Desperate Housewives.
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Feimoon is in her fourth and final year as an undergraduate student at York University, majoring in Communication Studies. She is passionate about traveling, fashion, beauty, writing and spreading positivity. She is now an Alumni of Delta Psi Delta, and past President. Now she focuses on being a Co-Campus Correspondent for the Her Campus York University chapter!