Image provided by Daniela Curi
Are you having trouble waking up for your 8 a.m. class? Do you feel like you are constantly in a rush in the morning trying to make it to class on time? Do you hit the snooze button on your alarm one too many times? If this sounds like you, then continue reading.
I was once experiencing this problem, but after putting together a structured morning routine, I’ve been having more productive days. Thus, sharing my morning routine will help you start off your day right too.
Waking up Early
The first step in my routine is the most obvious and most important – waking up early. This may seem impossible to do, but with determination and motivation, waking up early can really make a difference.
Set up morning alarms. From personal experience, I have to set multiple alarms in order to wake up on time. Ideally, I would like to get out of my bed at 7 a.m.; therefore, my alarm needs to start ringing by 6:50 a.m. If you are like me, who often hits the snooze button, then take this advice – set up four alarms, starting at 10 minutes before the time you need to wake up. Make sure that the ringtone is loud and annoying.
Here is an article that supports my statement about the importance of early rising. It explains the benefits that I think will help you become motivated in trying out my routine.
Bathroom Agenda
The next step is getting ready in the bathroom. This part of the routine can run too long; thus, timing is key. Therefore, when you are brushing your teeth, you want to aim for at least two minutes. When I started to time myself, I felt like I did a better job in making sure that I brushed everywhere. If you still aren’t convinced about this technique, take a look at this article that goes into the research behind this method.
Makeup
Once I am done freshening up, I go to the next step of my morning routine – makeup. Now if you don’t use makeup, then please skip this section and move onto my next step – getting dressed. If you are like me who stresses out about this part, then keep on reading.
I am sure you all worry about making sure that your face looks presentable in a limited amount of time. Well stop worrying, because I found a solution – less is more.
The key is to only use certain makeup products that serve as the base. What I mean by that is using a minimalistic amount that really makes a difference. Here are the products that I believe you should mainly use: concealer, eyebrow shadow, eyeliner, mascara and powder. These products can do the trick to make your face not only look natural, but presentable.
Of course, there are millions of concealers, mascaras and powders to choose from. If you are unsure about what brand to purchase these products from, I have compiled a list of the best rated products from this year:
15 Awesome Eyebrow Products Allure Editors Swear By
9 Liquid Eyeliners That Will Give You a Perfect Cat Eye Every Time
The 16 Best Mascaras for Getting Your Longest, Fullest Lashes Ever
9 of the Best (Non-Cakey) Face Powders You Need to Try
I usually take five to 10 minutes to put on my makeup. It is important that you do not spend too much time on this process. You want to make sure that you are going for a natural look.
The Hair
What’s next is the hairstyle. Whether you have long, short or medium hair, the go-to look is parting your hair in the middle. It doesn’t take me more than five minutes to do this. The key is washing your hair the night before. This will make things much easier.
Here is a quick video tutorial on how to achieve the hairstyle in just five minutes.
Getting Dressed
The next part of my routine is getting dressed. For many of you, this might be the step that has you running around looking through your closet, laundry basket or the dryer. So, what is the solution for this?
Prepare the night before. Organize what you want to wear and this will save you time. I take less than five minutes because I already know what to wear. This is the easiest part for me and it will be for you too.
Breakfast
The fun part from this routine is having the time to get some breakfast. If you have an early morning class, you might not have time desired to enjoy a heavy meal. I suggest going for something easy such as a granola bar or fruits. I usually go with a cup of grapes. Make sure that whatever you choose is mobile, easy and on-the-go.
If you are having trouble on deciding what to eat for breakfast, here is an article that gives you a few ideas on what to eat in your busy morning.
Start Your Day
Now that you have your snack ready, it is time to put your backpack on, which should be prepped the night before, and head out. I usually leave my house 20 minutes before class starts, so I can get a good seat. I suggest you do the same if you do not want to be known as the late kid every now and then.
So why am I mentioning my morning routine? Well, your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. The tone affects your performance in your work or at school.
I have used this morning routine for a year now and I can say that because of it, I have had more productive and effective days. Therefore, I believe that you will too.
