Time to rise and shine and smell the coffee! But wait, before I get out of bed I must grab my phone and scroll through all the new photos I missed, check the new tweets, watch people's snap stories from what they did last night, and check new posts. It's become a routine, right? Guess what, you're starting off your morning focusing on other's lives rather than your own, comparing your life to theirs most likely, and losing sight of the importance and agenda of your own day. Instead of hopping on your phone for the first 20 minutes of your day, try these 8 ideas for a week instead, and see how you feel.
1. Store a journal
Keep it by your bed to grab in the morning when you wake up. Journaling can extremely therapeutic. Keeping your thoughts on pen and paper allows you to retrace your feelings during any given day. Whether last night was a mess, or you just had the best day of your life, these moments can be crucial and you might want to look back at your thoughts.
2. Listen to a podcast
Podcasts can fuel your fire to motivate you throughout your day, and can truly shape your attitude towards the day. A self-help and/or religious podcast in the morning will set your mind straight so you can feel invigorated for the rest of the day.
3. Grab your Bible
Spend 20 minutes with God. God loves ANY amount of time you spend with Him, and starting off your day in His word is the biggest blessing you can give yourself. He will guide you through your day, and start that boost of joy you'll need to get your day started.
4. Create a To-Do list
We all have extremely busy schedules, and how are we supposed to keep track of them?! By creating a to-do list in the morning, you are reminding yourself what you would like to accomplish that day, and planning ahead so you're more likely to stay on track for the day. Staying organized can also prevent future stressful situations.
5. Study
Study just a little more. Bleh! I know, it's the worst, but putting in the extra effort can be worthwhile. Going over information that you might have forgotten for a test, quiz, assignment, etc. can make the difference from an average grade to a superb one! Twenty minutes goes a long way, especially in college.
6. Research the news
I'm not one to read the news often, but when I get the chance to it reminds me of how fortunate I am. There is a lot of negativity in this world, and that constant reminder that you're safe, healthy, and pursuing your dreams can instantly wake you up on the right side of the bed! Plus, it never hurts to be informed about current events.
7. Go workout
Don't miss your morning workout/a chance to workout because you're on your phone! Start your summer body early, feel better, and get those endorphins running! A good workout can relieve stress and give you more energy for the day. Grab a workout partner so you all can hold each other accountable.
8. Create extra time to make a decent breakfast and make coffee
We can all make the excuse that we "didn't have time to make breakfast" or you can stop at McDonalds for something unhealthy. Choose the healthier and cheaper option and plan what you're going to have for breakfast. Plus, a little cup of coffee that you make in the morning will get that caffeine flowing and save you a few bucks! A homemade breakfast always tastes so much better as well.
