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How To Develop A Great Morning Routine: Tips For College Students

HOW TO DEVELOP A GREAT MORNING ROUTINE: TIPS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

OK, just imagine that you just woke up. What is it that you do at this moment? If you say something like, “Run as fast as I can to make sure I don’t miss my class” or “Hmmm, nothing special, man…” it is time to think seriously about creating your special morning routine.

Developing a productive college morning ritual is easier than you think. The writer Joe Tichio gives some good reason to have a special morning routine: “Your current life is the result of your previous choices, if you want something different, begin to choose differently.” Without a doubt, you do have a morning ritual already, but it definitely needs some change. Developing your special morning ritual plays a crucial part in not only the way you start your day but also in the way you manage your academic and future professional career. In other words, Joe Tichio says that if you make sure to choose the right path today, you will thank yourself tomorrow!

It may sound pretty challenging at first, but having a solid college morning routine is a must. Once you start your day with some simple but useful habits, you will build up momentum that will make it easier to get throughout the day while you’re focusing on complex and daunting projects.

If you’re ready to rebuild your morning routine but have no idea where to start, we have a few quick tips that will show you where to begin.

TRY TO WAKE UP EARLIER

Waking up early in the morning might seem daunting to most college students; however, if you get an early start to the day, you have more time to be productive during that day. Of course, it works only if you get enough sleep during the night. As a result, you will have more time to finish up some important tasks, like essays, presentations, or college group projects.

Once you change your everyday ritual of hopping out of bed and quickly putting your clothes on, you will actually see that morning can be amazing and, what is more important, relaxing. You will have time to not only enjoy your breakfast but also set yourself up for a successful day.

MEDITATE

This point actually flows from the previous one. As you wake up earlier and have more time before your classes start, you can devote it to meditating. Among the advantages of meditation, you should focus on the following:

  • Better self-awareness
  • Anxiety and stress relief
  • Better ability to focus your attention on things
Some benefits of meditation, especially for students

No need to mention that all of the advantages given above are a must for a high school or college student. Meditating is one of the most productive ways to start your day. And the best thing is that you can do that anywhere you find it comfortable!

CHOOSE HEALTHY FOODS FOR BREAKFAST

Food is the source of energy for your brain. If you skip your breakfast or prefer an energy drink or a scone with your coffee, you will simply crash earlier than you think. So make sure to keep some healthy snacks at hand! For instance, hard-boiled eggs, homemade granola, fruits, nut butter sandwiches are some of the best options for the morning. If you make sure to have a healthy breakfast, you will be able to focus on your professor instead of your growling stomach.

BE FOCUSED ON YOUR ROUTINE ONLY

When it comes to your college morning routine, it is important that you remain selfish with it. Every other morning that you wake up, make sure to concentrate on what you’re going to achieve. After all, you could be sleeping in your bed and enjoying your dreams. That is why it is important to choose morning activities that will not only inspire you but also get you closer to your goal. Don’t spend your morning hours chatting with your Facebook pals or dealing with your friend’s personal drama.

EXERCISE

Don’t say it. We know how hard it is to fit a workout into your morning plan. However, once you make sure to get enough sleep at night, you won’t have any problems with getting up early and having a quick morning run. The thing is that you will not only build muscle mass but will also wake up your mind and body. This, in turn, will keep you focused during the day.

STAY HYDRATED

When you’re asleep, your body uses water in order to support a range of metabolic reactions. What is more, you also lose water when you sweat or breathe. It means that from the moment you get up in the morning, you should drink water. Make sure to sip on from your glass as you’re preparing your textbooks or clothes for class. Drink water on your way to college. This will help you boost your oxygen flow and get rid of all the unhealthy toxins as well. Besides, water is a perfect helper for those who want to kick-start their metabolism, so ensure to replace your favorite Coca-Cola with a fancy bottle of fresh water.

A student writing an essay with a water glass in her hand (and a 'stay hydrated' text written lightly over it)

MAKE A TO-DO LIST

Think of all the important things that you have to deal with during the day. The key is to check your tasks and prioritize them according to deadlines and importance. Do not simply write down every other activity, such as “to go through your old collection of nail polishes” or “to see what Placebo albums you’ve got on vinyl.” Only tasks with a sensitive deadline should be considered!

BUILD A SCHEDULE AND LIVE BY YOUR RULES

When you know what it is that you want to accomplish, it is time to create your personal schedule of the morning routine. This is huge because you will have to stick to it. Take your time, think carefully, and include as many details as you can. If you feel like online apps might help, choose the ones like Google Calendar to plan your college days.

It is up to you to choose what you are going to do today or tomorrow. Later, you will be able to check your schedule and see if it works for you. Perhaps, at some point, you will realize that you put too much pressure on yourself.

Here’s a morning schedule that may work for a college or university student:

  • 5:00 – 5:40 am: Wash my face, brush my teeth, take a shower
  • 5:40 – 5:55 am: Morning exercise (probably yoga this time?)
  • 5:55 – 6:00 am: Put in contacts
  • 6:00 – 7:30 am: Work on my “Romeo and Juliet”
  • 7:30 – 8:00am: Get ready for college

Take this schedule as a simple frame for your everyday morning routine. Today, it may be your essay that you have to finish in the morning. Sometimes it may be your personal blog. Choose what matters the most. And remember that many things in life are temporary, so don’t be afraid of adjusting your college morning rituals accordingly.

Now that you know how to set up a perfect morning routine, check some things that you have to avoid in the process:

  • Instagramming and Facebooking. You have things to do in the morning, so make sure to stick to the plan. Do not check your messenger until you’re done with your to-do list. After all, your friends are still asleep. Use apps like Cold Turkey Blocker, Self-Control, or Freedom to deal with this. However, it is important to be careful once you choose to blacklist any web page – you won’t be able to unblock the website until the specified time.
  • Waking up if you’re sleeping less than six hours. Of course, you may say that you can operate on less than six hours of sleep. However, if you get more than six hours, you will not only feel better but also cope with more tasks. So, next time you wake up after fewer hours of sleep, the best thing to do will be just turning off your alarm and getting back to sleep.

HOW TO BUILD YOUR MORNING COLLEGE RITUAL?

To start on your special morning routine, make sure to find the most suitable way to wake up early enough in order to have time before your classes. You can consider all of the recommendations given above to find the one that will work for you exclusively.

Once you’re done with that, ensure to take the following steps:

  1. Check your goals. Find out which ones require you to take small steps and ensure to take them in the morning.
  2. Figure out how much time you’ll need to get things done in the morning. In this case, trial and error is a good thing.
  3. Once you know your timeframe, make sure to begin your practice of waking up earlier.
  4. It’s time to start your new morning routine!
  5. Make changes if necessary.

Finally, keep in mind that a healthy sleep routine leads to a very good morning. A good night’s sleep will not only make you smile as you wake up but also help you feel better during the day. If you’re having trouble sleeping, look for the reasons in your bed. Perhaps, it is not as comfortable as it should be? Make sure you have a breathable, soft, and moisture resistant mattress. Thus, you will stay as comfortable as possible from dusk to dawn.

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