As appealing as “Spring” Semester may sound, the first half of it is the dreariness of winter… mornings are dark and cold, and coming back after a long winter break at home can make getting out of bed tough in the morning. Try the following to make leaving the warmth and coziness of your bed in the morning a little easier (or doable):
Leave your alarm on your desk.
If you’re like me, you probably like to bring your phone to bed with you at night so you can do some last-minute Pinterest-ing before you hit the hay. However, when your alarm is right next to your head when it blares every morning, it’s much easier to accidentally (or “accidentally”) fall back asleep when you don’t have to move at all to turn your alarm off. If you get up to turn your alarm off, you’re already in good shape!
Don’t make “Snooze” an option.
Literally, and digitally. Yes, it’s probably better to just force yourself to get up in the morning rather than contemplating snoozing for “a few more minutes,” but turning off the snooze on your phone or alarm clock is just as important, if not more so. If you don’t see “snooze” as soon as you go to turn off your alarm, you’re probably less likely to think of it as an option!
Make your alarm a song you hate…
When you’re woken up a by the sound of Hotline Bling, don’t you just want to leap out of bed to run over to your desk and turn it off IMMEDIATELY?!
…Or a song you love!
Maybe you’re really into positive enforcement (or moving… unlike me), and you might prefer to wake up to some Beyoncé and leap out of bed to dance instead! Mornings aren’t so bad when you start with a dance party, right? (Moderate sarcasm from a more stationary lady)
Find your go-go juice.
Yes, coffee is the most obvious choice because caffeine=awake (or almost-living zombie), but if you’re not a fan, find something else! Green tea, hot cocoa, or orange juice are all great options, too. Having a beverage that makes you feel happy and more awake in the morning will make them ten times easier.
Set a motive.
If a beverage won’t cut it, find something else that will. Pick out a cute outfit the night before, put a magazine or book on your dresser and read a few pages before getting ready, leave a plate of cookies on the ground next to you… Find something you love and make it the reason you get up in the morning. (Note:This could also be something bigger, better, and deeper, but the little things go a long way, too!)
Open the blinds!
Sunshine! Letting natural light into your room when you get is much more pleasant than the harsh dorm-room lights. If your bed is next to the window, you don’t even have to move to do it! Just be careful not to wake and agitate your roommate super early in the morning. (Another note:if you rise before the sun does, this may be less helpful for you, and it might be worth your while to do the opposite. Having your lights on and shades up when it’s still dark can be similar to living in a fishbowl, which is a bit too creepy first thing in the morning.
Count your blessings.
If you’re really struggling to get up, think of all the reasons you have today and every other day to get yourself up. Thinking about your blessings, such as your wonderful friends and the outstanding education you are receiving can be pretty encouraging when it comes to getting yourself started on tougher days.
I don’t think anyone will deny that cold, dark winter mornings can be tough, but hopefully these tips help you get a better start to your day!
Image credits: ergoflex.co.uk, frukmagazine