2017 is here, and the Spring semester has commenced. No matter if you're a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, a new semester presents the opportunity the start anew, abandon bad habits and start new, good habits. Here are some suggestions I'm trying out this semester to finish out this academic year on a good note-- perhaps you'll find them useful as well.
1. Switch Up Your Morning Routine
The way your day begins often indicates the kind of day you're going to have. After years and years of not being a morning person, I'm making a few extra efforts to make my mornings a little less miserable and sort of enjoyable. So far, I've noticed that waking up and getting ready to music puts a little more pep in my step. Another way that helps my body and brain wake up in the morning are some light stretches. Do what works for you! If this means waking up 20 minutes earlier to make yourself breakfast, or taking a long, hot shower. Experiment this semester with some ways to make your morning routine better.
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2. Make Time for Exercise
I know, I know-- you've heard it a million times. The reason you keep hearing it is because it's the truth, exercise will do nothing but benefit you in the long haul. Not only will exercise keep you healthier, it will reduce all that pent up stress we as college students experience. Exercise is a wonderful form of self-care-- it treats your body the way it deserves to be treated. Create realistic work out regiments for yourself. Look through your calendar and try to find a minimum of 4 hours a week to exercise. I guarantee that out of a 168-hour week you can find 4 hours. There is always time to take care of yourself.
3. Planning out what you're going to wear
This tip kind of goes along with changing up your morning routine. If you've ever been like me, I spend way too much time in the morning trying to figure out what I'm going to wear based on what I feel like, what I want to look like that day and how this all comes together with the weather. You spend 10 minutes picking something out only to try on 100 variations of it, and boom, 30 minutes of your precious morning time is gone. Look up the weather the night before and plan what you're going to wear. Whether you physically lay your clothes out or have a mental plan, it will save you morning time that you could be getting a coffee, chatting with friends or power-studying before a reading quiz.
4. Goals for the day
Set some realistic goals for yourself every day. This will give you the opportunity to organize the dozens of thoughts in your head. Whether it's a mental list, bullet points in your journal or on your white board, goal-setting will give you a little something extra to strive for in your day. This can range from assignments to work on to self-care.
5. Figuring out a sleep schedule that works for you
This point will help #1 a lot easier. Making sure you get enough sleep every night is the true indicator of how your day will go. This is what goal setting and extra planning comes in handy-- it will help you clear out more time for a good nights sleep. However, it's a little different for everyone. Experiment with waking up at different times and see which time helps you wake up more refreshed-- an hour before you have to wake up? 30 minutes? 15 minutes?
6. Find new study spots
It's a new semester, change your environment up a little! Little changes like picking a new place to study really helps refresh you in days where routine is everything. Find a new spot on campus, or venture into the city and find a coffee shop that tickles your fancy.
7. Change your Bed Time Routine
Just like switching up your morning routine to have a better day, change your bed time routine to have a more fulfilling sleep. As hard as it may be, try to keep screen time to a minimum and try reading a book for a change, or listening to calming music. Prepare your mind for a restful night so that you aren't staring at the ceiling for an hour waiting for your brain to calm down.
