Your college years are the biggest life adjustment that you’ll go through regarding discovering how to live on your own terms and take care of yourself. Each day brings its own complications and stressors, and it can be hard to navigate through these when you’re always stressed. My biggest change that helped me to be more successful in college and in my own life was establishing a meaningful morning routine. I started waking up earlier, writing my goals for the day and eating a healthy breakfast, and even these small changes make a significant impact on my days. A morning routine is so important for many reasons, and I’ve listed the most meaningful ones below.
1. It Sets the Mood For Your Day
When you wake up late and miss a class, your whole day seems ruined, at least for me. For my whole life, I was always a huge fan of sleeping in and waking up at the last second if I need to be somewhere early. However, once I got to college, I quickly realized that I had to make a change in order to be successful. When I started waking up earlier, I found that I had a better mood throughout the day and felt exponentially more “awake.” Even waking up an hour or two before your first class, you don’t feel rushed and you’re in a better mood. I highly encourage waking up early and having a cup of coffee and a good breakfast before starting your day, and see how improved your mood is.
2. Increased Productivity
Waking up late takes away time that you need to manage your priorities and do what you need to for the day. One thing that really changed my productivity levels was waking up early, making a list of everything I need to get done for the day, and actually doing it instead of procrastinating. Having more time for school work takes away the urgency of deadlines and in turn, you’re less stressed, which can even make you perform better. Overall, waking up early could be the solution you need for time management and productivity.
3. More Time For Yourself
There’s something peaceful about waking up before others and having some time to yourself. Waking up early not only gives you more time to get your schoolwork done, but it also gives you more time to focus on self-care. I try to incorporate at least one self-care activity into my morning routines, such as doing a face mask or journaling. It’s easy to forget about your own needs when you’re worried about your academics, and it’s important to designate some time to focus on what you or your body needs.
If you’re struggling with time management, mental health, or whatever it may be, I highly recommend establishing a morning routine that works for you, and I think you’ll see what a difference those few hours can make. Even the smallest changes can have the most significant impact on your day and your health.