A Productive Morning Routine for Every Online Student

If you are among the 15 percent of the population who consider themselves a morning person, then you are the lucky few who probably don’t dread waking up in the morning. However, if you are of the other 15% who are night owls or the 70% who are somewhere in the middle, then you probably wish you could sleep in just a little longer.

While having to run into the office or class forces you to roll out of bed and get ready in the morning, being a remote online student requires more discipline. It may be tempting to wake up minutes before class starts and turn on your laptop in bed. Even if you are working from home, you need to wake up and get ready just like a traditional student.

There is good news and bad news. 

Unfortunately, our natural circadian rhythms are genetically determined. Whether you can wake up early or stay up into the wee hours of the morning is not something that you can change based on your preference. But do not fear! The majority of people who struggle in the mornings aren’t helpless; there are ways to make your morning more bearable, if not a pleasant experience. 

It's All in the Routine

A study shows that healthy habits have to be employed long-term to have any positive effect; therefore, you need a healthy routine to reap the long-term benefits. According to Northwestern Medicine, having healthy routines may help you manage stress, sleep better, stay active and get enough nutrients.

While most people can benefit from routines, they aren’t one-size-fits-all. It may take some trial and error to find the routines that work best for you. 

Here are some tips to consider and implement as you build your custom morning routine.

Wake Up!

This may sound obvious, but when your alarm goes off in the morning, you actually need to get out of bed. It is tempting to hit that snooze button for just “another five minutes," but according to some sleep studies, snoozing your alarm can lead to lighter sleep and higher resting heart rates.

Try waking up well before your classes start and see how much you can accomplish before your classwork even begins. Instead of trying to squeeze some extra sleep in, try going to bed earlier to give yourself that extra half-hour or hour of sleep.

Try to wake up at the same time every day. By aiming for the same time every day, you can help set your internal clock, which in turn makes it easier to wake up in the morning.

Drink Up!

To get your day started on the right foot, drink a glass of water first thing when you wake up. Hydration is associated with helping your body and your brain work more efficiently. In contrast, dehydration can lead to weakness, dizziness, low blood pressure and may also affect mood and concentration.

Supplementing your body with enough water will replenish the diminished minerals and kickstart your metabolism. Adding a slice of lemon to lukewarm water can supply your body with vitamin C. While there is nothing wrong with wanting a more flavorful beverage, drinking a glass of water is a good idea to combat dehydration that occurs from caffeinated drinks.

That being said, while staying hydrated is a key part of a healthy routine, you can still enjoy a hearty cup of coffee or tea to get your morning caffeine.

If a warm cup motivates you in the morning, you should take advantage of it. Your morning cup of coffee (or tea) could be combined with a few minutes of mindfulness before you begin the rest of your morning routine.

Dress Up!

Science has shown that there is some truth in the phrase, “dress for success.” Dressing up is shown to positively impact cognition, mood and mental processing. So, yes, while it may be easier and more comfortable to lounge around in your pajamas all day, there is a proven psychological benefit to dressing up. 

While you don’t have to wear a formal gown or a suit and tie every day, perhaps try to pick out an outfit before you officially begin the day. Even sweats and a T-shirt are an improvement if you generally wear pajamas all day.

Eat Up!

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Studies show that eating a healthy breakfast could reduce symptoms of stress and depression. While it may be tempting to save some time by skipping a meal, that skipped meal may make it harder to pay attention later on. You need food to make energy, so eating breakfast in the morning ensures that your ‘tank is full’ right away at the start of your day. 

Keep in mind that not all breakfasts are created equal. What qualifies as a healthy breakfast can vary from person to person, but in general, a breakfast high in protein and low in sugar is seen as a healthy breakfast. 

Write Up!

With online schooling, it is easy to lose track of assignments, projects and deadlines. To avoid this, use to-do lists or a planner to track your daily and weekly goals. 

On Sunday, you could look at the week ahead and map out the most important tasks, assignments, or exams you have coming up. Every morning during the week, you can break down these assignments into smaller, easier tasks. For example, if you need to write a paper by Friday, you can write two pages on Monday, format and check sources on Tuesday, edit on Wednesday, etc.…

Focus on high-priority assignments first to ensure you are meeting important deadlines. It is not only satisfying seeing large tasks become more manageable, but it is also pleasing seeing items get checked off a to-do list.

Creating the best daily routine is the foundation of academic success since it sets the tone for the rest of your day. Starting strong can help you achieve momentum that lasts you all day. Even if you aren’t a morning person, implementing a few of these strategies can help make mornings as productive as possible!