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Mornings can be hard. After a late night spent studying for a big exam, your student may be tempted to hit the snooze button. But if there’s one thing that can prime students for success during college and after, it’s establishing a productive morning routine.
Research has shown that morning people tend to be happier than their night owl counterparts, and people with morning routines earn more than those without a morning routine. Morning routines can also lead to improved sleep, which is essential for college students.
Morning routines will look a little different for each person, but a few fundamentals are key to setting up your day for success. Establishing a morning routine can change anyone's life for the better — these five tips show you how, so share them with your student today!
One of the best ways to ensure you wake up earlier, and feeling rested, is to establish a consistent bedtime. That may seem difficult when you have papers to write and exams to study for, but according to the Sleep Foundation, all-nighters can actually have a negative impact on your thinking, mood and physical health.
By creating a morning routine and sticking to a regular bedtime, you'll have more time in the morning to look back over your notes and study guides rather than staying up late and feeling the impacts during the day.
You can probably hear your parents urging you to make your bed, and the truth is, they had a point. Making your bed when you wake up can be a great way to start the day by checking something off your to-do list, inspiring you to be productive throughout the rest of your day. (This may be especially helpful if your bedroom is also your study space.)
Plus, making your bed will keep you from crawling back into it after your early morning classes.
Blackout shades can be great when you’re trying to fall asleep, but they won’t help you when you’re trying to wake up in the morning. When you wake up, be sure to open your blinds and curtains to let in natural light. This will help signal your brain that it’s time to get your day going and help shake off sleepiness.
If your dorm doesn’t get much natural light, or if your roommate is still sleeping when you wake up, try going for a walk in the morning to reap the benefits of vitamin D.
It can be easy to drift from your morning routine in the summertime or on vacation, but try to stay vigilant when it comes to your morning routine even when you’re on break. Not only will this help your body to maintain a morning routine rhythm, but it will help you accomplish all that you hope to during the school year and outside of it.
Waking up early can seem like a hassle if you don’t quite know how to fill that extra time. This is where personalization comes in.
Think about what you want to accomplish in the next month, six months, or a year. Do you have fitness goals you'd like to reach? Are you hoping to develop your a new skill? Or maybe try meditation? By waking up a little earlier and creating more time in your day, you can work toward your goals — whatever they may be.
It may be tricky for your student to start developing a morning routine when they’re juggling classes, spending time with friends, catching up on chores, and everything else that comes with day-to-day college life, but trust us when we say that they will thank your for suggesting they take that first step toward developing one.
For more inspiration on how to create (and stick to) a productive morning routine, here's a helpful infographic from Auraglow.
