Many college students battle sleep deprivation on a daily basis. I am by no means a morning person, but there are certain activities that I try to do in the mornings to help me set motives for my day, as well as be energized and productive.
Make a healthy breakfast
Waking up a little earlier to make yourself breakfast is a great way to start off the day. Not only will you feel productive making yourself breakfast instead of grabbing a granola bar on the way to class, you will have the energy to take on your day with a positive mindset and be held over until your lunch break.
Go to the Gym
As unappealing as getting out of your comfy bed may sound when your alarm goes off in the morning, an early workout leaves you feel energized and productive.
Practice Yoga
An alternative to getting up and going to the gym is practicing yoga from the comfort of your own home, a great choice when you don’t want to change out of your pajamas quite yet. I am a huge fan of yoga because it is my biggest way to de-stress and allows me to begin my day with a clear head and goals in mind. My favorite way to practice is to follow along to YouTube videos because I get to do it from the comfort of my own home and I have the freedom to choose exactly which yoga class I wish to start off my day.
*My fav channel: Five Parks Yoga
Schedule your week
Feeling organized is a huge step towards less stress, so begin each morning by reviewing your schedule, checking emails, and writing down all homework and events you have for the week. Writing to-do lists for each day of the week is my favorite way to organize my busy schedule because it allows me to break down an overwhelming list of to-do’s into just a few things a day, reminding me I can handle it.
Quality time
Self-care is one of the most important and, seemingly, the most forgotten priority on people’s minds. Take quality time for yourself while the world is still quiet. Listen to calm music, drink your first cup of coffee of the day, read a book, write in your journal, or just breathe.
Family call time
Although I am lucky enough to not be cursed with an 8:00am this semester, free time is still rare. Utilizing the mornings to call family and catch up with friends allows me to maintain my relationships, while also brightening my day.
Catching up on the Netflix show you fell asleep watching the night before
It seems like falling asleep while watching a show on Netflix is a very popular thing to do, a few friends of mine even have an established “show to fall asleep to”. Free time in the morning is the perfect opportunity to try to pick through the 5 episodes that played after you fell asleep to finish the one you were actually watching before dosing off.
Taking a long shower
I have really begun to appreciate the (rare) opportunities I get to take a long shower and just relax. Life seems to always be going 100mph and it is so nice when I get to stop and relax before I begin my day.
Make a morning playlist
This is so important because music is a form of therapy. My favorite days begin with listening to a calm, happy morning playlist while getting ready for my day. Whether you make your own or find a public one that you prefer, you should absolutely have at least one go-to morning playlist that gets you excited about your day.
Go for a walk
Going on a walk is a very underappreciated activity. Not only does it clear your head, it really allows you to appreciate your surroundings. Whether I’m on campus or on the Lakeshore Trail, walking along the lake is my favorite route because Lake Michigan is so large and vast, it makes me and my problems feel so small. Morning walks leave me feeling refreshed and mindful.
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