Survival of the Morning Challenged: Tips for Students Who Hate Mornings
Mornings are a minefield for those of us who are not natural early birds. As a student, mornings can be especially challenging, there’s always a constant battle between getting out of bed and hitting the snooze button. But mornings are a fact of life, especially with early lectures, early assignment submissions, and internships that don’t wait for snooze button addicts.
If you are reading this and you feel seen, be not dismayed! Here is a guide to help you survive (and maybe even conquer) the morning.
Craft a Realistic Night Routine
The survival of the morning starts the night before. Here’s the trick: Avoid the late night TikTok and Instagram scrolls or Netflix and YouTube binges, as they’ll keep you wired. Instead, consider reading a few pages of a book, journaling your thoughts to wind down, listening to calm music or taking a warm bath/shower.
Gradually Adjust your Wake-Up Time
If waking up at 6 a.m. feels like a nightmare, don’t expect the enthusiasm you feel the previous night make you feel like there can be a magical shift overnight. Start by setting your alarm 20-30 minutes earlier than usual. Once you’re used to it, gradually move the time up another 10-20 minutes, till you reach your desired waking up time. This way, your body can slowly adapt, making those early mornings less of a shock to your system.
Avoid Snoozing your Alarm
When you snooze your alarm, the extra five minutes that you were hoping to gain may quickly turn to ten, fifteen or even an hour. So, cultivate the discipline not to press on the snooze button. Rather, use the five minutes rule by getting out of bed within five minutes of waking.
Prepare Everything the Night Before
Setting up for the next day can also ease your morning rush. Try laying out your clothes, packing your bag, or prepping breakfast. These small steps mean you have fewer decisions to make when you wake up half asleep.
Be Kind to Yourself
Being kind to yourself is essential. Not every morning will be perfect and that’s fine. Rather than getting frustrated, recognise and reward little wins like getting out of bed without hitting the snooze or making it to your lecture in time.
Customize Your Morning Goals
Do You Like Quiet Mornings or Busy Mornings?
Quiet Mornings
Busy Mornings
Don’t feel pressure to do mornings like how other people do theirs. Embrace what works for you. If you like quiet mornings and hate to be chatty then set a goal to have some quiet time for yourself in the morning. Personalizing your morning helps make it feel like something you actually look forward to, even if just a little.
Surviving mornings is not about becoming a full-on early bird, it’s about creating a routine that works for your lifestyle and energy level. As a student, mornings can be a challenge, but with the right adjustments you can survive them.
So, rise and shine or at least, rise and slowly get out of bed.
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