This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Temple chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
Don’t hate on mornings.
Mornings are freshly ground coffee and spiced chai tea. Mornings are the varieties of sugar cereals and toaster strudels. Mornings are crisp spring air and the energy a new day brings.
If you disagree, then you should continue reading.
Many of us would like to have energy in the mornings, and yet we find ourselves waking up as miserable zombies. However, we’re not born anti-morning people. And morning people don’t always have to be the anti-night owl. So how does one go about becoming more morning savvy? Here are some tips that may improve your morning experience.
- Eat a healthy breakfast. You’ve probably been told this before, but a meal in the morning really does make a difference. Not only does breakfast provide energy, but it helps to maintain a healthy metabolism. For those of us who are discouraged by busy class and work schedules, a bowl of cereal or a bagel may only take 15 minutes to eat. If you can fit some nutritious fruit into that mix, you’ll be even more ready to conquer the day! For more on what makes a good breakfast, visit this article from The Breakfast Panel.
- Get out of bed consistently every day. If you have a class at 10 on Mondays and 12:30 on Tuesdays, continue to get out of bed at 9. The more consistent you keep your sleep patterns, the easier it will be to get out of bed, and the better rested you’ll feel. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7-9 hours of sleep of adults. Take it from someone who sets her alarm two hours earlier than she really has to wake up; it’s still possible to get out of bed when the alarm goes off. Often, it feels even better to just get up rather than have a restless hour of procrastination. For ways to maximize your sleep, check out these sleeping myths at the National Sleep Foundation website.
- Plan your morning the night before. Some of us have trouble thinking before noon and may find efficiency and productivity challenged in the morning. So plan your mornings before they arrive. I’m not suggesting you type an itinerary, but think about what you’ll wear, what you’ll get done, how much time you’ll have, and so on. That way, you don’t have to waste twenty minutes in the shower thinking about what you have to do when you get out.
- Take a walk, and if you can, exercise. I, personally, cringe at the thought of sweating early. However, a refreshing morning walk, especially in the spring time, is really rejuvenating, allowing you to relax and prepare for your day ahead. Studies by institutes like Black Dog show that exercising actually improves your mood in addition to contributing to a healthy lifestyle and reducing stress. So go outside, take a deep breath, and feel alive. Because it’s a new day, and that should be energizing rather than depressing. For more on health benefits of exercise, visit this article on exercising before breakfast from The New York Times.
- Realize that mornings aren’t a waste, and they can be the most productive part of your day. If you continue to hate mornings, mornings will hate you. So the most important step to becoming a morning person is to be confident in morning’s potential to be productive and enjoyable!