Midterms are upon us. It rains several times a week. The days will soon get shorter and chillier. Needless to say, the motivation to get out of bed is on a downward slope. Read on to determine how you can power through the day without collapsing over your desk halfway through your bio lecture.
Sleep with disciplineYou’ve probably already heard that waking up at different times every day throws your system out of whack, causing you to have way less energy than you would otherwise. I used to be the worst at this – it’s so tempting to sleep in until 11 on those days when you have no morning obligations, but it makes it even worse to get up at 8 the next day. Make a resolution to set an alarm for the same time, give or take maybe a half hour, every single morning (yes, including weekends) and to get out of bed the first time the alarm rings. You will feel much more rested and ready to start the day. If you start waking up a few minutes before your alarm is supposed to ring, then well done! You’ve shifted your sleep-wake cycle.
Make a morning playlistGetting up at 7 to get ready for that dreaded 8 A.M. class can be made a little better if you make breakfast and brush your teeth to optimistic and high energy songs. I personally recommend Peter Quill’s “Awesome Mix Vol. 1” from Guardians of the Galaxy or any playlist of 90’s and 2000’s sing-along-able pop hits. There’s nothing like a jam session to Smash Mouth or *NSYNC to get your day started on a good note.
Wear your favorite outfitNo, not your comfiest hoodie and yoga pants. Your real favorite outfit – you know, the one that you wear first after every laundry session. I know that looking cute and put-together never fails to add a boost to my day. Perhaps it’s the confidence that comes with it or a desire to get out and show people just how well you rock it.
Experiment with caffeineThe healthiest people on campus will probably hate me for this one. We have several places on or near campus where you can get your daily coffee fix, including Swem Aroma’s, real Aroma’s, the Grind, the business school café, and the dining halls. Be careful though, because adding too much sugar or whipped cream could lead to more of a crash than prolonged wakefulness. This is why coffee is more effective at keeping people awake than soda is. Don’t like coffee? Black tea is a great, albeit less caffeinated, way to get energized in the morning. Figure out what works best for you!
Get excited for somethingIt’s halfway through the day, you have one more afternoon class, but you have a break for a couple hours after lunch time. Ok, now what? Plan something fun for those midday drowsy times, whether it’s a friend-date at the Grind or some alone time to paint, swim, or cook – whatever makes you happy!