6 Ways to Become a Morning Person at University

woman stretching in the morning

Starting university is all about becoming independent and making your own lifestyle choices. One thing you may like to do is become a morning person. You’ll be able to take advantage of the quiet time when most students are still asleep, you won’t struggle to make it to your morning classes, and you’ll likely find that you’re more productive early in the day than at night. However, you can’t just will yourself to become a morning person — there are a few things you need to do to make the change.

1. Use Your Phone to Prepare for Sleep

It’s important to stop looking at screens for at least an hour before bed to ensure you fall asleep quickly. A sleep app will remind you to put your phone away at the right time, tell you it’s bedtime, and wake you up with soothing sounds.

2. Sleep with the Curtains Open

You’ll find it easier to wake up if sunlight is already entering your room. Instead of blocking all light when you go to sleep, keep your curtains open. This will help your brain register when it’s morning and time to wake up.

3. Reward Yourself

If you’re able to get up without hitting the snooze button even once, give yourself a reward, such as a latte or refreshing smoothie. Use the idea of a reward as an incentive to climb straight out of bed when your alarm goes off.

4. Start the Day with a Glass of Water

Before you reach for the caffeine (or perhaps even instead of a morning coffee), drink a large glass of cold water. Keeping a carafe in your fridge is a great way to ensure the water is icy cold for the greatest impact. You’ll immediately feel energized and ready to take on the day.

5. Head to the Gym

Continue to wake up your body by exercising first thing in the morning. Sign up for a fitness class on campus or work out on your own — just make sure you choose something you enjoy and will look forward to doing.

6. Favour Morning Classes

Whenever you have the choice, pick a morning class over one in the afternoon or at night. In particular, try to find classes you’ll be excited to attend, such as those with a charismatic professor or a small class size where you’ll be able to participate. An added advantage of a small class is that it will be obvious if you don’t attend — which should motivate you to arrive on time.

When you’re sharing a room, sometimes you have no option about when to sleep, as your roommate may be waking you up at all hours. For this reason, the first step toward becoming a morning person at university has to be to move into off-campus housing. Ottawa students can find a new home at 1Eleven. You can choose between a private bedroom in a suite or your own one-bedroom apartment. All the floor plans are fully furnished and residents have access to great onsite amenities, like a fitness centre, games room, and grocery market. Book a video tour to check out the facilities.

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