Every individual begins their morning differently. Some of us wake up to the sound of an iPhone alarm set for seven o’clock each morning, while others are woken up by the sound of mom making breakfast downstairs in the kitchen, and a few wake up naturally from the rays of sunshine streaming through curtained windows. The way we begin our mornings sets the tone for our day. But just because there isn’t a fresh hot stack of banana chocolate chip pancakes waiting for you on the kitchen table when you finally roll out of bed, or it’s a cloudy day outside, doesn’t mean the day won’t be awesome. Here are a few of my favorite things I do each morning to start my day off on the right foot, feeling prepared and excited to take on whatever IHS has in store for me.
The first thing is, if you are not lucky enough to have a family member wake you up each morning, set an alarm for the right time. If you are up late the previous night and you know you won’t get as much sleep as usual, I recommend setting your alarm a little later than you usually would so you can squeeze in those extra z’s, even if it means sacrificing some time to do your hair. Adding just an additional ten minutes can make a big difference! So plan out the night before what wake up time will leave you feeling the best, while still giving you enough time to get ready. Waking up at the perfect time usually leaves one feeling refreshed, recharged, and ready to seize the day.
Secondly, if you make your own breakfast, and you can, make it the night before or make sure it’s something that you can whip up quickly. I like making overnight oats so I can simply take it out of the refrigerator in the morning and eat it right away. This cuts breakfast time in half, which means the mornings go a lot smoother. Or make something quick, like eggs, a smoothie, or instant oatmeal. Whatever it is, make sure it doesn’t take up too much time and is delicious and nutritious! Your body and mind will thank you during that math test second period and later during your soccer practice.
Third, listening to music while you are getting ready and/or traveling to school is another great way to start the morning because it gets you excited and in a good mood. It does not matter what the genre is, just choose whatever you like! I believe playing the music you like and getting a few quality dance moves in before arriving to school is a must. It almost always gets me in a great mood and lightens up any stress I might have.
Finally, and most importantly, find gratitude that you even get to go to school. Some people don’t have the opportunity to learn from teachers at a school, to be involved in extracurriculars, or to be surrounded by friends and people they admire. Each and every day at IHS provides a chance to meet someone new, to enhance a relationship with a friend, and of course, to educate yourself about the world. Do not take this for granted, and you may start to find yourself viewing the typical school day in a more positive way. Being grateful and realizing how fortunate you are to be at such a diverse and accepting place of learning truly tops those pancakes, even though that seems impossible.