5 ways to have a better morning
Let's face it: nothing is more difficult than an early morning, especially if you've got a final. If you find yourself always dreading the moment when you have to leave your warm bed, have no fear. While mornings can often get the best of us, here are five tips to make your morning a bit brighter.
1. Create a pump-up playlist. In the movie The Internship, Billy (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Owen Wilson), prepare to make a sales deal by jamming out to the song Ironic by Alanis Morisette. Although an odd choice, it motivated them to tackle the sales and be successful.
Whether you listen to pop, punk or rock, you can make a quick playlist of the songs that make you feel good inside. Upbeat songs energize you, shaking off the sleepiness from the all-nighter the night before. I tend to listen to my pump-up playlist in the shower, so I can keep track of how much time I'm spending in there.
2. Watch a TED talk. Sometimes all you need is a little bit of motivation. TED Talks are short, inspirational, thought-provoking and/or challenging discussions facilitated by an individual who dares to think differently. The talks are often 10 to 12 minutes long, making them the perfect things to listen to when getting your books together before class or readying for your commute to that summer internship.
From the power of being introverted to the science of dying, there's a wide variety of topics bound to appeal to you.
RELATED: 3 academic lessons we learned from TED talks
3. Read something. If you're like me, I only get out of bed the last possible minute, to avoid being late while promoting maximum sleep. As a result, I tend to not have a lot of free time in the morning, making my lifestyle very on-the-go.
Reading in the morning is a great way to stimulate your brain and prepare for the critical thinking you'll do in your classes later, but you need to read one chapter. Or, read three articles from the news that stick out to you. Flip through a magazine. With minimum effort your can help keep your mind alert for the day.
4. Breathe. Mornings can be a whirlwind of stress and hurry, but take a few moments to breathe. The way you start your day greatly impacts how you will feel for the rest of the day, and thus, it is important to remain relaxed and at peace with yourself. Remember, your mental health matters.
5. Exercise. If you find yourself with time on your hands, get moving! Not only does it help wake up your body, but it's good for your health. Whether it's a couple of lunges and jumping jacks before you head out the door or a jog on your way to class, you can incorporate exercise in your daily routine without waking up hours earlier.
Julia Schemmer is a member of the Paste BN College contributor network.
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This story originally appeared on the Paste BN College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.