For most people, mornings are tough, and it takes awhile to get up and out the door in the morning with much energy. Going through each morning thinking about nothing but your bed and how amazing it would be to get a couple more hours of sleep is also a very common thought that I hear throughout the week. But I want to share my morning routine with all of you that gets me out the door with loads of energy and a positive attitude to carry out8 through the day.

Next to my bed, I have two sheets of paper on the wall consisting of a quote and a very important poem that has affected my life for the better. The quote says, “Worry is a total waste of time, it does nothing but steal your joy and keeps you busy doing nothing.” Being a big worrier, this has helped me get through everyday with that quote constantly in my head. If I ever catch myself worrying about something irrelevant I immediately think of that quote. Next to that quote, I also have a poem entitled, “The Will To Win.” This poem is written for those who want to make their dreams become a reality, and really explains the idea that hard work will pay off as long as you stay dedicated and passionate for whatever your chasing after. I read this every morning three times when I wake up to ensure that I woke up for a reason today, and that reason is to live every single day of my life with passion and purpose knowing that my dreams will soon become a reality.

Another thing that I do in the morning is meditate. I have been meditating for about six months now and man is it tough. My mind is always racing and meditation is all about relaxing your mind and body. So at first it was definitely a challenge but once I started to get better at it, I found that the results are endless. Some benefits of meditation include increased mood, energy, and concentration. It also reduces stress which is so beneficial especially for college students and our busy schedules. This is something I highly recommend to anyone who is constantly stressed or just need some peace and quiet. I am going to warn you, it does take a lot of patience and dedication so don’t give up. Meditation is key for me and helps me really have a positive outlook not only on the day, but on the outlook of life in general.

The last thing that I do in the morning that really gets me ready for the day is read a couple of pages out of my favorite book. Reading in the morning? Are you crazy? I mean, who does like to read in the morning right? But a couple years ago my love for reading has grown tremendously after reading many books on living everyday with passion and purpose. Of course again, there are many benefits to reading in the morning too. Your brain is still waking up and if you begin to read in the morning before class or work, it’s like working out your brain. Your brain receives more oxygen and blood as you read thus increasing mood, memory, and concentration skills. Reading in the morning also gives you energy as well because you are working out your brain and increasing that blood flow to the brain. It does not even have to be a book. Just read something that you find interesting in the morning for about 10 to 15 minutes.

So there you go, this is the reason why I am hoping around in the morning like a kangaroo. You just have to look on the positive side of everything which is obviously easier said than done, but just think about your greatest dreams and passions in the morning and really ask yourself, “Why am I here?” We are all brilliant and profound human beings and each and every one of us have something to give in this world. Everyday starts with the morning, so why not make it great and start your day off strong?