Seven Steps to My Happy-Go-Lucky Morning Routine

College definitely took a toll on my mind, body, and emotions, as I’m sure it did yours. The easy accessibility of alcohol, obscene amounts of unhealthy food, and countless late night events inevitably lead to your body’s clock being thrown off and metabolism slowing down. Without a game plan, you will spiral into the worst you’ve ever felt in your life.

I know sometimes it seems like a major endeavor to break out of the “college life” mentality and into one of health and serenity. I also know you probably understand the basics of being healthy, and simply have chosen whether to adhere to that knowledge or not. However, it actually can be easy when you slowly remodel your daily life, step by step! Choosing to be intentional with your mornings every day leads to better habits and a happier life.

People are often baffled at the fact that I consistently enjoy my mornings and ask me why and how! Learning through my ups and downs in college, I have created a personal morning routine that is fool-proof in reaching the full potential of your day. These seven steps never fail to keep my confidence and focus levels at an all time high!

Happy-Go-Lucky Morning Routine☀️

1. Wake up before 7:00 am every single day, and go to bed at a set time around 10:00 pm. This is not a suggestion; this is a plea. Your body craves the early morning productivity, and needs sleep to function properly. Adenosine, a neurotransmitter similar to caffeine, binds to receptors and acts as a depressant. After a full day, the adenosine has gradually risen to high levels, and sleep is the only thing that can reset it. Waking up early will give you maximum productivity time AND give you time to set your daily priorities before the stress levels hit.
2. Intentional meditation, or as I call it, candle-lit Jesus time. Close yourself in your closet or bathroom pre-set with candles, a lighter, and a Bible and journal. This is a time to not only wake up your brain, but set your mind on truth. Your day is a reflection of your morning! Spend time with your Creator and dwell in His presence before the craziness of the world gets under your skin. Beautiful revelations can happen for those with open, seeking hearts.
3. Workout! If you knock out your workout in the morning, your metabolism will be kicking butt all day. Find a way to move your body that works for you. Recently, I’ve not been as consistent with morning workouts, and I can tell that fatigue sets in faster and my body avoids digestion all day. I encourage getting your heart rate up in the morning. Try it out for a few days this week and feel a difference!
4. Breakfast well or do not breakfast at all!!! Your body obviously needs energy for the day. I lean towards building a protein shake – plant protein powder, spinach, peanut butter, plant milk and frozen fruit. On a rainy day, or a sick day, I substitute for oatmeal. However, if I made the mistake of eating a bunch of Chinese food at 10 pm the night before, and I wake up feeling full, I do not eat breakfast! My body needs to focus on digesting what’s in the way. Instead I drink lots of water and green juice, if possible. Side note: Take multivitamins, vitamin D, and probiotics daily. Take oil of oregano supplements when feeling under the weather. Just do it.
5. Go to a coffee shop. Every day before I have class, which is only three times a week, I stop in to my campus’ Starbucks and sip on a dark roast while studying the material for the day. I like to enter my science classes as prepared as possible, so having that time of review keeps me from rushing around. Also, getting to campus an hour and a half before my first class ensures a decent parking spot! Every Monday, and one or two weekend days, I instead head over to my favorite Murfreesboro coffee shop. Catching up with the baristas while writing lab reports is the best way to energize. Being an extrovert, talking to people constantly helps me focus and calms my mood. However, introverts have their own little nooks in coffee shops as well, making it the perfect place for everyone! I highly recommend spending your hard earned money on ridiculous amounts of caffeine. 🙂
6. HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE. Do not forget to start chugging water as early as possible! Water is the ultimate healing and hydrating agent, especially if you’ve been consuming an overabundance of coffee.
7. By noon, you should have accomplished 3 important tasks. This being the end of the morning, I try to monitor my productivity by making sure I complete a handful of assignments that were day-specific. Motivation severely decreases in the afternoon if the morning has been fruitless. For example, this could include sending emails, sections of a lab report, planning a piece of an event, taking a chapter of notes, or researching grad schools.

Mornings should encompass a spirit of positivity and productivity so that nights can be stress-free with early bedtimes. I know I probably sound like an old lady or a seven-year-old kid, but I promise that creating a healthy daily routine will change your life. Do not simply live for the weekend and miss the moments of each beautiful day!