Morning, doll face!
I’ve always struggled with being a morning person. I love everything about waking up early, but it takes everything out of me to actually get up and at the day. Here are a few little tips that help get me going and make my mornings easier.
Develop a routine that you can look forward to.
My roommate and I have a morning ritual; we wake up at about the same time each day, drink our coffee and eat breakfast while listening to acoustic music. The first hour and a half of our day are spent easing into the day instead of springing out of bed and rushing to class.
Always. Eat. Breakfast.
I never thought I’d say this, but eating breakfast is probably my favorite part of my morning. I have so much fun with it. I love to spend a little extra time cooking, even if it’s just utilizing the hall microwave (I’m a huge foodie).
My typical morning meal consists of old fashioned oatmeal (that I make in the microwave or with my Keurig) with apples, blueberries, cinnamon and almond butter. A dash of a little vanilla sweetener and almond milk. It’s super simple to make, and it tastes just like pie. Oatmeal is a necessity for a college student’s shopping list; you can use it for so many things. Find a breakfast that you can look forward to while you’re getting into bed. I’m hungry just thinking about it.
Put on some tunes.
My favorite playlists to wake up to are usually found in the “Chill” genre on Spotify. I often press play on “Soft Pop Hits” and “Acoustic Morning”, but this is all based on personal preference. Most people play music while getting ready for something important, so why shouldn’t mornings deserve a pump-up playlist? (Even if it’s James Bay, because he’s fab.)
Need something new? Here are a few of my personal favorite songs to wake up to.
Take a few minutes to plan out your day.
One of my biggest musts for my morning routine is to write down everything that I must do, what I want to accomplish, and a few other goals and objectives for the day. I write this on a note card with the schedule for the day, and pin it to my bulletin board. By writing out a tangible to-do list, I feel a little more structured. Plus, you can cross off “write a to-do list” off of your to-do list.
Make your bed / clean your room
Okay, I get it. I sound like your mom. I like to describe myself as “messy clean”. I’m a very neat person, but I tend to leave things out and about when I’m running late. I’ve found that cleaning up after yourself in the morning, (i.e., putting away your makeup after you’re done, folding your PJ’s, tidying up your desk) can make you feel more productive. Also, get into the habit make your bed the second you get out of bed. It’s a little victory and your first success for the day. It doesn’t hurt that it makes your room look 10x nicer, and you won’t have to worry about it later.
I’m one of those people who can’t work in a super messy environment, especially doing my homework. Coming home from class to a tidy room makes me want to jump start on getting things done, instead of procrastinating by cleaning later.
Create a cozy environment.
Buy cute mugs, chunky blankets, and an air freshener that smells warm and inviting. Not only can it #bless your Instagram, but you’ll want to jump out of bed and take those pics sooner. Believe me, morning coffee tastes so much better in a cute mug.
Put the social media aside.
Who isn’t a huge fan of laying in bed scrolling through their social media feeds for a half hour before getting out of bed? I like to refer to it as the millennial equivalent of reading the morning paper. But word to the wise, put it aside as you start to get your routine together. Spend time with your roommate, and enjoy the time before you have to start the responsibilities for the day.