After a sort of turbulent first year, I have been really focused on taking care of myself – mentally, physically and emotionally. With that said, my morning is quite reflective of that new focus, and I genuinely believe that starting the day off on a high note resonates throughout the day. Here I share my morning schedule; don’t feel obliged to follow the same, however do feel free to gather inspiration and create your own ‘perfect’ morning routine.
My morning routine ironically starts the night before; it all starts with getting a good night’s sleep. Make a list of everything you want to accomplish the next day so it isn’t lingering in your mind while you try to sleep; whether it is completing lecture notes or deciding what to make for breakfast – jot it down. Usually I use google calendar to plan out my entire day however feel free to go old school and put pen to paper in your journal. Also, put your phone and laptop away – ideally in the other corner of the room.
6:00// I wake up rather sluggishly as my alarm goes off over the table across the room. I get myself out of bed, shut the alarm and drink a big glass of water (highly recommend this! It wakes me up more than anything else). Then, I walk towards my yoga mat and practice yoga (recommend Yoga with Adrienne).
6:20// After a good 20 minutes yoga session, I meditate (or how I like to call it – me time) for 15 minutes. Not only does this help concentrate on myself but also prepare for the day ahead of me.
6:35// Being spiritually rooted, I then pray for the next 25 minutes. Being grateful is an integral part; it helps me focus on the positives in every situation the day brings upon. There are always those days when you feel like nothing is going your way, however I realized the importance of gratefulness in prayer when at the end of such a day I was thankful for the challenges that came over me since they helped me grow.
7:00// After feeding my mental and emotional self, I head towards the kitchen to make a hot cup of coffee and breakfast. My go to is avocado on toast or if I am feeling lazy then I settle for cereal. There are definitely those days when it feels too early to eat breakfast, however skipping breakfast = a grumbling tummy amidst lectures which is definitely a no-no.
7:30// I head for a quick shower and get dressed for university.
8:00// From there I head to university feeling happy and already accomplished even though it is just 8am!
Experimenting different morning routines will help figure out what you really want to accomplish in the morning and what works best for you. If it doesn’t work out, that’s okay! You can always try again tomorrow. Be kind to yourself and change one thing at a time, allowing yourself to get into the new flow and make the most out of the day! University can often be daunting therefore it’s important to treat yourself with happy and revitalizing morning rituals.
Have a good time experimenting until you find the ‘perfect’ morning routine!