College so far has been my favorite three weeks of my life. Yes there have been some really low lows but I’m adjusting to life on my own across the country. But there are so many things that can make the day better. These steps begin from the moment you wake up to the point where you lay your head down to go to sleep.
When your alarm goes off, actually get out of bed. In high school I was notorious for hitting snooze on my alarm. I would hit snooze at least three times every morning but usually more. This made mornings even harder. I have learned that as soon as my alarm goes if I sit up I feel so much better. You don’t necessarily have to get out of bed right away but at least sit up and get the blood pumping.
Have a consistent morning routine. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I have class at 10am and on Tuesdays and Thursdays my first class is at 9:25am. I allow myself the same amount of time to get ready both days (One hour before I should be walking out the door my alarm goes off). After my alarm goes off I check my phone, reply to texts, keep the snap streaks going, etc. Then I get up and wash my face and brush teeth. Everyday those are the first things I do once I leave my bed. They wake me up and I have more energy to actually get ready for my day.
Talk to at least one person who makes you laugh. I try to call or FaceTime a friend or family member everyday. I love seeing familiar faces and realizing that the same struggles I am facing here they are facing in college too. We usually talk about our lives in college more than the times we’ve spent together which is fun. Obviously some days get busy so sometimes texts will have to do. But laughing with someone who knows almost everything about your life makes everything better.
Take time for yourself. College is a whole bunch of people all the time. I am very introverted and need to recharge. For me it’s sitting in my bed for an hour with no one else around. During this hour I usually watch an episode (or two) of my current Netflix obsession. This makes the rest of the day so much better. I also usually get this chance over lunch time so I’ll eat and then by the time my roommates are done with class I able to talk to them and not be cranky.
Watch a funny youtube video. It’s stressful living on your own and having to be your own motivator. I knew my parents did a lot for me and I am very fortunate but at the same time I never realized how much they did until I came to school. I am expected to make all my own decisions and that’s so scary and usually sends my stress levels through the roof but thankfully youtube is a thing. There are so many funny videos that I like to watch. Most of them I have seen a 100 times by now but they never fail to make me laugh. Leaving reality for a few minutes does wonders.
Do your homework during the daylight. In high school I had no choice but to do my homework at night. That’s when school and sports were done. But my senior year I started getting up and doing it before school instead and that completely changed my outlook on homework. While you won’t see my getting up before class now, I try to get all my homework done before dinner when possible. That way after dinner I can go out with friends or watch Netflix without feeling guilty. I also feel less stressed when I do this because I don’t feel like I have a time constraint. I am also more awake and find it easier to concentrate.
Have a great pump up playlist. Invest in a music app. I broke down over the summer and got Spotify Premium and I am obsessed. They have a student discount so I only pay $4.99 a month for the school year. I love Spotify because you can chose the songs you listen to and make different playlists and I like they have tons of covers of songs. (Covers are my secret obsession because they take the most upbeat song and make it calm for doing homework. Covers make it so you can have everything you want.) But having a great playlist can make or break your day. Right now I have been obsessed with songs that are more upbeat. The lyrics might be sad but if the beat sounds happy that’s all I need. I always have it on when I’m in my apartment and it’s totally helped my mood. You can see my go to playlist here.
Just like in the morning have a consistent night routine as well. I shower every night before I go to bed and I try to do it a couple hours before I plan on actually falling asleep so that my hair is dry by the time I sleep. My night time routine also consists of going through my day with my roommate and quite a few episodes of Netflix. It’s also nice not to do homework at this point or think about school. Sometimes that can be hard, especially if you live at school but trying to push it out of your mind at night is so relaxing. My roommate also has different lavender scents she sprays in our room at night that make you sleepy and it totally helps me go to bed.
Tomorrow is a new day. Some days absolutely suck no matter how hard you try to stay positive and that’s just life. You just have to remember that tomorrow is a new day full of new possibilities. Not everyday can be perfect. You just have to suck it up and hope for the best. Find an inspirational quote or a good song and keep that on repeat until the day is over.
These are actual things I do everyday and I highly encourage you all to try them if your days are long and exhausting!
