Creating a morning routine for students can be challenging due to inconsistent workloads and changing schedules. These tips will help you create an effective morning routine.
Morning routines are a great way to get your days started in the same way every day. Creating a morning routine for students can be especially challenging since almost no day is exactly the same.
During my time as a high school and college student, I used morning routines to create a good jumping-off point for the rest of my day.
After learning these tips, you are going to be a pro at creating and implementing your new morning routine.
This post is about tips for creating a morning routine for students that can fit any schedule.
Best Tips for a Morning Routine for Students
1. Figure out your optimal bedtime.
Being a student can make a regular sleep schedule difficult to achieve, so the most important thing to strive for is to set yourself up to sleep as well as possible. Not everyone needs 8 hours of sleep, so work on figuring out what works for you. For some of us, that means only 6 hours of sleep, but for others that number is 9 to 10.
There can also be a great variance in when you’re most productive. For some people that is the morning and for others, nighttime is their most productive time. Whatever it may be, take note or experiment if you need to. With this in mind, try to maximize the time that you’re most productive and set up your bedtime around that.
Here are a few tips for getting restful sleep:
- Limit screentime before bed: I am sure you have heard this one before, but limiting screentime before bed is a great way to improve your sleep quality. Try to put the phone down and pick up a book at least 10 minutes before bed.
- Try a breathing exercise: While laying in bed, I often try to get in control of my breathing to help me calm myself. Usually, this consists of breathing in for 4 seconds, holding that breath for 4 seconds, then exhaling for 6 seconds. You’ll be yawning in no time with this one!
- Don’t get into bed until it is time to sleep: If you hop into bed to do homework or to chat on the phone, your body will start to associate bed with those activities. Try to keep your bed separate from anything but sleep or wind-down activities!
Sleep is the best time for our bodies to relax and heal, so it is essential to get a good night’s sleep every night. As a student, sleep is also very important for retaining information which will make your precious studying time far more productive. Whether that is 6 hours or 10 is up to you!
{ Related post: 4 Easy Ways Your Nightly Routine can Drastically Improve Your Morning Routine }
2. Get a workout in, even if it’s short.
Working out is a great way to start every day, especially as a student. An early workout will provide you with benefits that will help you start each day on the right foot.
These are some ideas for short workouts you can do before your day gets going:
- Try a morning yoga session: A quick yoga routine can be as short as 10 minutes but will provide you with a great spark to start your day.
- Take a walk around your neighborhood: Hearing the birds sing without the sounds of cars driving around or planes flying overhead is very calming while also helping to wake you up! Give it a try!
- Try to accomplish a small workout goal: Maybe you have a pullup bar in your house, or maybe you strive to do 10 pushups at once! You can wake up and try to work on small goals like these to help clear your mind and give you a sense of satisfaction each morning.
No workout is too short, and I guarantee you will benefit from getting your body moving first thing in the morning.
3. Fill out your planner first thing in the morning!
When I was a student, my planner was my best friend. Filling out your planner for the day or week is a great thing to do in the morning when your mind is clear and you have the whole day ahead of you.
These are a few additional benefits of filling out your planner:
- You will know when you have time to work in fun with friends.
- Group project planning will be easier since you know where you will be and when.
- You will become more organized and missed deadlines will become a thing of the past.
Filling your planner out in the morning will help you get the day started properly and will give you some structure for your day. You will see the benefits immediately!
{ Related post: The Complete Morning Routine Checklist with Easy Steps that You’ll Actually Want to Follow }
4. Eat a healthy breakfast.
As somebody who often started their school days with a PopTart or Eggo waffles, I am here to suggest you do not do the same. Yes, those types of foods are quick and tasty, but they are not setting you up for success.
Eating a healthier breakfast can help your body start in a better, more balanced way. A healthy breakfast will leave you feeling more full for longer and will lead to better cognitive function and memory.
Here are a few ideas for a healthy breakfast:
- Nutrient-filled smoothie: All you need is frozen fruit, milk, and a blender to make a quick and easy smoothie for your morning! There is also a lot of room for mixing up the flavors with this one.
- Eggs and toast: This one is a classic and was my go-to later in college. You will feel satisfied for hours and love all the variations of this meal!
- Oatmeal: Oatmeal can be incredibly delicious, without much extra work! Consider making a large amount at the start of the week so you can have plenty to eat all week long!
Breakfast is essential to any morning routine for students, so make sure to treat it that way!
5. Avoid the snooze button!
Snoozing can be so very tempting in the morning but often leads to negative consequences. If you snooze too much, you could easily miss the bus or leave yourself with too little time to eat breakfast.
The extra few minutes you gain from snoozing can easily turn into big blunders. These are a few tips on how to not hit snooze:
- Put your phone on the other side of the room: Forcing yourself to get up and find your phone is a great way to stay away from snoozing!
- Have somebody hold you accountable: Have a friend who wakes up early send a text to you every morning! This little extra bit of accountability will help you get up on time.
- Change your alarm every day: If you use the same alarm noise every day, your body will dread that noise. This will lead to you snoozing almost every time. Try to vary your alarm sound to give you something new to hear every morning. This will break the cycle and help you avoid the snooze button.
Snoozing is a bad habit that most of us have, especially overworked, tired students. Try to avoid that button for better sleep and a better start to your day!
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