I’m a morning person. Yes, I’m one of those people you hate. I’m pretty happy in the mornings and probably too loud for your liking. But I’ve always been an early riser. 7 a.m. has been my natural wake-up time since I was in elementary school. Sure some days I slept in later but I think the latest I’ve ever slept is probably 10:30. That’s laughable for a college student, but hey, that’s my normal. I do recall a few mornings that I pretended to sleep-in to avoid going to church…sorry mom ;)

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Another constant since I was little? My morning routine. It’s one of those routines that gives me comfort and isn’t so “strict.” It starts my day off on a positive note and sets the tone for an overall productive and happy day. Morning routines sound like common sense, right? But when you have a plan for the start of your day the rest of it is bound to go smoother.
Here’s a peek into my routine..
1. Go to bed at a reasonable time. Yes, my morning routine starts at night. I know it’s not always possible to hit the sack early, but I do make sleep a priority. On a normal night, I’m in bed by 10 p.m. and asleep by 10:30ish. Even on nights when I have a lot of homework, I set a cut off time for working. Whatever I don’t finish, I work on in the morning. I’m a big believer in sleep.
2. Set an alarm (or two) if you must. I sleep worse when I set an alarm because somehow my body knows it has to wake up soon so I can’t sleep straight through the night. I typically wake up before my alarm anyway, but I always set two alarms: one for opening my eyes, one for getting out of bed.

Typical wake-up times
3. Workout. 5/7 days I workout in the morning because if I don’t, it’s not happening later in the day. Sometimes it’s hard to wake up when the clock says 5:xx but I know I’ll be happy when I’m done. Whether it’s running, yoga or stretching my body just feels better after doing something. But, I’m human. While I may intend to workout one morning, sometimes sleep is more important.

All smiles after an early wakeup call
4. Look presentable. Notice I didn’t say “look good.” That’s because I certainly don’t do that every day. After I shower from the gym, I do my hygiene routine (brush teeth, wash face, deodorant, etc.), pick out an outfit and do my hair put my hair in a ponytail.
5. Eat breakfast. Breakfast has always been my favorite meal. I’ve gone through breakfast “phases” in my life…I was a devout Life Cereal eater until I was diagnosed with celiac, then I transitioned to Rice Chex, and now I’m onto oatmeal. I’ve always had some type of fruit on the side. I know that if I don’t set aside a reasonable amount of time to eat a leisure breakfast, I’m setting myself up for failure. I don’t rush through breakfast and really enjoy my meal.

Typical breakfast at home (2x) while catching up on social media (see below)
6. Catch up on the world. I read the paper, read blogs, Skimm, check out social media, get sports scores, find out which Kardashian announced she was pregnant, and more. I love my morning “catch-up” time. Instead of hopping on the internet randomly throughout the day, I dedicate time in the morning (and night) to get my technology-fix. Once I’m done, I’m done.

The Skimm from July
7. Mentally/physically prepare for the day. Sometimes writing out a list (not too extensive!) or packing bags for later can ease any stress about upcoming events. I tend to pack my lunch and a bag with whatever extra things I need (sneakers, books, extra clothes).
8. Carpe that diem. Just felt the need to end the list there.

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Do you have a morning routine?
Favorite breakfast food?