Mornings are hard. Especially in college, waking up early and getting stuff done seems almost impossible, with all the overwhelming homework and constant late nights day in and day out. However, with the right techniques, mornings can be a whole lot more bearable!
Plan your outfit and pack your bag the night before
I find that waking up to an already laid out outfit makes my mornings a lot less stressful, and run a lot smoother. If I lay out my outfits the night before, I find that I pick clothing that makes me look stylish and feel confident, rather than just grabbing the first hoodie and leggings I see and then running out the door.
Turn your coffee maker on first thing in the morning
Right when I wake up, I turn on my Keurig before I go to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. That way, when I come back, the coffee maker is all warmed up and ready to brew me my cup of sanity!
Listen to a podcast
Rather than listening to music when I wake up, I recently have been listening to podcasts. I like listening to NPR's "Up Next" podcast because it informs me of the most important news stories and current events for the day. That way, I know what is going on in the world around me, and I am warming up my brain for the rest of the day. Additionally, podcasts require all my attention, so I'm not mindlessly surfing social media first thing in the morning.
Use an essential oil diffuser
An essential oil diffuser makes a world of a difference in the mornings. The right scent can put you in a productive mindset, calm you down, and make you ready to take on the day.
Make your bed right away
Making my bed first thing in the morning is something that I used to hate doing, but I now realize how productive it makes my mornings feel. It makes me feel like I've already accomplished something that day and puts me in a productive headspace.
Wash your face with your favorite cleanser
Skincare is a tough code to crack, and it may take a lot of trial and error to truly find a face cleanser that works for your skin type. However, once you find it, stick with it and create a routine of washing your face every morning. This helps you feel refreshed and capable of taking on the day.
Put your favorite music playlist on
After the NPR podcast, I like to listen to uplifting music in the mornings. Recently, that has been Kacey Musgraves and Maren Morris's albums for me. Listening to powerful women makes me feel like one myself, so find whatever music gives you mojo and make it a part of your daily routine.
Do a 5-minute stretch routine
In the mornings, your muscles tend to be tight and wound up. A 5-minute stretch routine can do wonders for your flexibility, especially if you make it part of your daily routine. The stretching routine also helps to center your focus and ground your thoughts, making the rest of the day much smoother.
Eat a good, filling breakfast
In college, a hearty breakfast is not easy to achieve. However, even in the dorms, it is very possible to have a bowl of oatmeal or cereal, put some peanut butter and bananas on toast, or even have a small bullet shaped blender and make yourself some smoothies (frozen berries + banana + soy milk = heaven in a smoothie).
Write down your main goals for the day
This is one habit I've incorporated into my daily routine that has truly changed my life. It helps me remember what is important to me, and gives me the motivation to get through my day. Goals can be as simple as "get laundry done" to as deep as "stay positive today." Whatever life is throwing at you, having goals helps you get past it.
Spray on your favorite perfume
Right before I leave for class, I always spritz on my favorite body splash because it reassures me that my brain might be a mess, but at least I smell good!
Hopefully, this list helps you enjoy your mornings more. It's definitely not necessary to incorporate all 11 of these tactics into every morning, but just adding a few of these habits in, and being consistent with them, will change the way you view mornings! They're never easy, but a productive morning can put you in a good mood for the rest of the day!