Back when I was your typical, awkward middle school girl-– oh yeah, I am referring to my metal mouth, terrible acne, garbed-in-anything-Hollister-related days-- my health teacher said something in class that I have never forgotten: “A successful day begins with a successful morning."
I was never a morning person, but I knew in order to have a successful morning I would probably have to become one. But how does one even become a morning person to begin with? I asked myself this question all of the time, especially during my first year of college where my late nights of studying often exceeded into the early hours of the morning (Oh yes, I have walked home from the library early enough to hear birds chirping…). The answer is somewhat anticlimactic, but beautifully simple: in order to become a morning person, you must have a rockin' morning routine.
Yes, that is all! To be a happy-go-luck early bird all you need is an exuberant and refreshing morning routine. However, when I refer to a "morning routine", I am straying away from the standard procedures that we all must perform in the mornings in order to look somewhat presentable to the public (brush teeth, comb hair, etc.). This morning routine that I am about to present to you is one that may turn some people away, because it will actually require effort! Ew, effort in the mornings? I know, I thought the same thing at first; but after incorporating these few patterns into my mornings, I instantly became that annoyingly jolly morning person that some of us-– at least those reading this article-– aspire to be.
Wake up at your FIRST alarm.
Wait, no snooze button? THE HORROR! Studies have shown that those extra five to eight minutes that snooze buttons gift us with are actually less restful than five to eight minutes of REM sleep, which in turn makes us feel more tired when getting up. By setting your alarm for the last time that your daily “snooze" would force you up, you will be getting more sleep and thus feel less tired when waking up. Need a little motivation? Try placing your phone or alarm across the room where you will need to get out of bed to access it. Doing so will make the snooze button much less tempting!
Fill your room with natural light.
If you are waking up at an hour at which the sun has already risen, take a moment to open your curtains or blinds. By filling your room with natural light, you will feel much more alert and energized.
Listen to uplifting music.
In college, you may have to restrict yourself to wearing headphones (due to your slumbering roommates), but otherwise I encourage you to blast your tunes at full volume! I suggest making/finding a playlist on Spotify or Pandora that consists of several of your favorite jams. Whether this playlist consists of mellow songs (in which case you should definitely add “Banana Pancakes" by Jack Johnson) or upbeat songs (in which case you should definitely add “Ghost" by Ella Henderson), these happy songs will easily uplift your mood as you continue with the rest of your morning.
Stretch.
Stretching in the mornings helps increase blood flow to your muscles that have been stiff for several hours while you have been sleeping. By getting your blood pumping, your body will feel extremely revitalized, which will help you feel more awake.
Make a “To Do" list.
I know this step may seem silly, but it is a great way for you to set daily goals for yourself. Whether these tasks consist of picking up groceries, completing your calculus homework in one sitting, or simply painting your nails, making a “To Do" list in the morning is immediately setting you up for a productive day that you are excited to undertake.
Eat breakfast.
While this step should certainly be a “standard procedure" that I spoke of before, many people do no incorporate eating breakfast into their daily routines. As you have been told since you were young, breakfast is truly the most important meal of the day. It provides your body with the nutrients and energy that you need to tackle your everyday missions. So eat up, and start your great day off with a full stomach!
Avoid social media.
The ultimate challenge. Do not start off your day with seeing a picture of your ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend with their new “bae". Take control of your own emotions and make the start of every day a great one by giving yourself a break from the dramas and stresses of your outside world (often seen via social media).
Look at yourself in the mirror and say, “This is going to be a great day."
Now the odds of you all performing this task is slim-– I know I even struggle with this one. Talking to ourselves is often associated as something strange and awkward. But, if you take those few extra moments to look at yourself in the eyes and state that the day ahead is going to be an amazing one, then that is exactly what it is going to be.
This routine is certainly not one that needs to be practiced every single day. We are all going to have those lazy Sunday mornings where we wake up at noon, make a ton of pancakes, and watch Netflix in our pajamas all day. Regardless of if you choose to be a morning person or not, I want to end this article with a reminder for every one of you: every morning is the start of a new day. So, no matter what, try your best to wake up with a smile, leave yesterday behind, and seize the incredible hours ahead that you have been fortunate enough to be given.
