People aren’t joking when they say college is hard.
If there is one thing that I have learned since transferring to the University of New Hampshire it’s just that. From the mental to the physical to the financial toll that college has on many students, it can be difficult to find not only time, but motivation to do the things we love. Between jobs, the immense workload, friendships, and being involved in school culture, there is little time left over. Any time that is left is typically dedicated to eating and sleeping.
Although I know I am not perfect, I have discovered a routine that works for me. It involves a lot of coffee, drives home to play with my dogs, and patience for my ever-changing mind and body. I find that waking up early to do the things I love gives me energy (thank you dopamine) for my hectic days. I wake up at 6:30 AM (yikes I know, but I’m used to it by now) at a minimum of three days a week to go to the gym. When I go to the gym, I lift heavy weights because not only does it make me feel empowered, but because feeling physically strong allows me to feel mentally strong. To me, being mentally strong means not letting the small things get to my inner peace . Other things that allow me to maintain my inner peace are journaling, watching the sunrise/set, and painting. Getting into the habit of waking up early allows me to have more productive days to maintain that “inner peace”.
Just by waking up early a few days a week, I find that I am more energized and productive. And because of this, I have more time for the things I love!