By Jordan Rutheford, Kira Ley, Amber Barchus, Aubrey Lapp, Helen Knaus, Jacqueline Roshetski, and Manuela Pineiros
Starting the day can be a challenge and we all know that. These tips are to help college students start their days stronger so they can have happier, easier, and more productive days ahead.
Skincare Routines
Starting your morning with self-care is vital to your mental well-being. One of the ways you can incorporate wellness into your morning routine is with a skincare regimen. Incorporating only three products can elevate your morning routine, so you look good and feel good. The three products that are important in a morning skincare schedule are a cleanser (optional), Vitamin C, and sunscreen.
Cleansers remove excess oil and prime the skin for your morning products. Those with dry skin can choose to opt out of a morning cleanse, but dermatologists say to rinse the face with lukewarm water as a substitute. Oily skin and combination skin will benefit from a morning cleanse to remove excess oil. When using a morning cleanser, it’s important to use gentle cleansers that don’t overly strip the skin, such as:
The Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser gently removes excess build-up while hydrating and replenishing the skin, all for the low price of $12. Pick it up at your local Target.
Vitamin C brightens and protects the skin from the sun while reversing signs of aging, perfect for those wanting to maintain a youthful appearance.
The CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum delivers fast and effective results that visibly improve the brightness, tone, and texture of the skin. To purchase this potent formula visit Target.com.
Sunscreen is the most important step in any skincare routine to prevent hyperpigmentation caused by the sun, premature signs of aging, and skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, those who use sunscreen every day reduce their risk of developing melanoma by 50%. Dermatologists recommend purchasing sunscreens containing an SPF of 30 or higher to maximize UVB protection.
The L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Broad Spectrum Daily UV Lotion contains SPF 50 with UVA/UVB filters to effectively protect your skin from sun damage while giving you a natural glow. Visit Target.com to purchase your own.
Start Your Day with a Workout
Secondly, when building a well-rounded morning routine, it’s important to consider adding a morning workout to the schedule. In general, exercise has many benefits, such as increased energy, improved focus, a natural way to relieve stress and improved sleep.
According to an article from Healthline, working out early may make you feel more energized throughout the day. This can be especially beneficial for people who struggle to wake up and get through the early parts of their day.
Additionally, the article notes that exercise helps concentration, so for people who experience a lack of focus during the day, a morning workout could be the cure. The article noted that a study found that days with morning exercise connected with better concentration during the day.
It’s no secret that exercise improves mood because it’s a natural stress reliever. When working out, your brain releases endorphins which help to improve your mood. Working out in the morning is a great way to start the day positively with a good mood.
The article also notes that morning workouts can lead to better sleep. A study noted that adults slept better on the days they exercised at 7 a.m. With more time in deep sleep, fewer awakenings at night and less time needed to fall asleep, a morning workout can be the solution for people who struggle to sleep at night.
Holistic Wellness
There are many wellness hacks you can do first thing in the morning to greatly improve the quality of your overall health and energy for the day. Here are a few tips I’ve learned from various wellness blogs and experts that have become staples in my morning routine!
Oil pulling: You may have seen many people swishing coconut oil in their mouths on various social media platforms. While this may seem like another pointless trend or ploy for a TikTok Shop product, there are proven benefits to starting your day with oil pulling. Based on ancient South Asian folk remedies, oil pulling is the practice of swishing liquid oil around in your mouth for around 1 to 2 minutes before eating or brushing your teeth. It is meant to remove toxins from your teeth and gums and improve overall oral health. It can also help you digest food better, combat bad breath, and whiten your teeth. You can also add tongue scraping in for added benefits.
Caffeine Delay: I know most people crave the instant burst of energy that comes with a hot caffeinated beverage first thing in the morning, but most health experts and wellness gurus would encourage you to actually delay that morning latte. As it turns out, waiting 90-150 minutes before consuming your morning caffeine actually increases your energy throughout the day
Warm Lemon Water: It is important to consider digestive health when first waking up in the morning, and an easy way to kick start your digestive system is with lemon water. Making a healthy morning “lemonade” with fresh lemon juice, water, and honey (you can even get creative and add in turmeric or apple cider vinegar for extra benefits) will help your body properly prepare for the day.
Repetition to Build a Schedule
Staying on a repeated schedule can help your body find a better morning routine. Allowing you to wake up at the same time every day, eat breakfast consistently, and wake your brain up properly each day. An article from “Scientific American” states that it takes about 66 days to have a habit be fully made. Sticking to a routine of when you wake up, brushing your teeth, morning activities and breakfast for those 66 days will help you feel consistent and productive. Starting the day strong every day is just one way to help improve your morning routine. Read further for more tips and tricks.
Starting With a Good Meal
They don’t call it “the most important meal of the day” for nothing, starting your day off strong begins with nourishing your body with a wholesome breakfast. Choosing a balanced meal rich in essential nutrients will help to refuel your body after a night of sleep and get you ready for the day ahead.
The Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU states that eating breakfast can have several benefits such as less chance of obesity as well as improved memory and focus throughout the day. Furthermore, according to an article by the State Government of Victoria Australia, while skipping breakfast is a common occurrence, it is not recommended. Yet if you do, you should try to make up for those lost nutrients throughout the day with other meals and healthy snacks.
A healthy breakfast to help jumpstart your day should include a variety of food groups such as healthy fats, whole grains, and fruit. Here’s some inspiration for morning meal ideas: chia seed pudding, overnight oats, and 3 ingredient banana pancakes.
Avoiding Your Phone
Your alarm is going off and you reach for your phone to turn it off. Naturally, you unlock your phone and catch up on all the things you may have missed from the night. However, this is making it so your morning is not off to a great start. When you first wake up your body goes through multiple important stages to help drive brain activity. According to a Scientific American article, “the ideation that can take place during the theta state is often free flow and occurs without censorship or guilt.” By going on your phone first thing in the morning your brain is filled with things from the media, positive or negative, that can greatly affect the way your day goes. So how can you make sure you start your morning off right and avoid your phone?
It’s easy to go straight onto your phone when you’re already picking it up to turn off your alarm, so investing in an alarm clock that is not your phone is a foolproof way to avoid your phone.
The Hatch alarm clock is on the more expensive side, but it has many different features that can ensure you get the best night’s sleep and have a productive morning. It includes a sunrise alarm, sleep sounds, a bedside light, and more features that can ensure you have a peaceful wakeup.
If you’re not looking to pay as much for an alarm clock, Amazon has many alarm clocks for much cheaper with many of the same features.
Getting a Good Night’s Rest
One effective way to jumpstart your ideal morning routine is by preparing a to-do list the night before. The act of creating a written or digital list can allow you to clear your mind, prioritize tasks, and set intentions for the day ahead. According to an article published by Sleep Number, rather than having upcoming tasks bouncing around your head when you’re trying to fall asleep, writing a list down can help you sleep better. As you begin to relax for the night, take a few moments to reflect on the tasks you’ve accomplished during the day and identify what needs attention tomorrow. Write down both big and small tasks, from completing assignments to working out or even completing chores such as grocery shopping.
To summarize, starting a skincare routine, working out, sticking to a schedule, sleeping well, having a good breakfast, avoiding your phone, and practicing holistic health can help you have a glamorous morning. College can be stressful, and these tips are a way of helping tackle one of the hardest parts of the day for some, waking up. We hope these help you the same way they have helped us!