Remember the good ol' days when you were waking up and starting your day often before the sun had even risen to the sky that morning? When you were doing an in-class exercise at 7:30 a.m. and practically passing out by lunch at 11:15 a.m.? Now, trying to drag yourself from your sheets at a decent hour is comparable to trying to open a box of Plan B — it requires significant physical effort and is damn near impossible.

While most college students will not be setting an alarm before the sunrise, it is important to get going early and have a morning routine that sets a positive tone for your day. With all the things us ladies have to do before we leave the house on any given day, it is vital to have a routine in place, so that quite frankly you don't go insane. Here is a guide for getting up, getting ready, what you should have with you when you leave your home and overall, how to perfect your morning routine.

Getting Up:

Alarm snoozing: Many of us are victim to the continuous alarm snooze. Personally, I used to set about 15 alarms, and even then, still wound up waking up late. The trick is actually to wake up immediately. You can set a few alarms, just to be safe, but try and start opening your eyes and waking up your brain after that initial BEEP. Interestingly, waking up early, as opposed to mid-afternoon, will make you more alert and focused throughout the day.

Listen to music as soon as you wake: While your brain is turning on and you're mentally preparing to leave those snuggly sheets, turn on some calm music for good juju and happy thoughts as soon as you wake up. Use songs as a timeline. Two songs MAX to check your phone and wake up slowly. Then, by the third, up and at 'em baby. Stand up, do a little stretch to fully wake up your body and get going. It's really okay to allow yourself 10 minutes in the morning to essentially meditate and just be.

Light candles & have a cup of tea: When I have the maximum sensory satisfaction I am calmer and more focused overall. Once you toss those covers aside, light up some candles, brew a pot of warm water, and turn on some soothing tunes. Drinking a detoxifying tea as soon as you wake up can do amazing things for your digestive system and your waistline (spring break bod baby!). If drinking tea is not your cup of tea (LOL) then try a simple cup of hot water with lemon - very similar benefits.

Getting Ready:

Most women have multiple purses or bags for the various shenanigans and events we partake in. One large, for all the s#!&, one smaller bag for our evening outings or frankly, for when you're around a dude and you don’t wanna look like the queen of Sheeba with all your belongings, and a backpack type situation for class. Maybe you even have another just to switch things up! Long are the days when clutches were a thing, unless you want to lose all your belongings on the Roys bar or you're Kate Middleton. This carrying on about bags leads me to two points: be prepared and get your things situated in advance.

Be Prepared: In the evenings, take five minutes before you crawl into your cocoon and prep for the morning. Lay out your outfit(s) for the next day, pack your bags, charge your devices, and make a to-do list of all the important things that need to get done the following day. Making a list and having all your items ready to go will help you wake up calm and attack the day with a plan. *This is especially critical to do on a night when you're going out!*

Get your bag secured: These are the items that every grown ass woman should have in at least one of their multiple purses in order to be prepared for the day-to-day: Aquaphor, wallet (consider having a card wallet and a separate wallet for cash and coins), a portable charger, a pen, gum and mints, sunglasses, and a tide pen. Good luck out there ladies!

Have a great day!!!