Feb. 4, 2015

By Alena Purpero

As the new semester begins, many students endure the harsh and cold transition from our cushiony winter break routine to our usual academic obligations.

For many who have early morning classes, it means rushing out the door with less than five hours of sleep, no food in their stomach and notebooks for the wrong class.

Although we cringe at the idea of an early morning class – with good reason – there are methods we can utilize to not only get through the morning, but conquer the day.

Before we get to a morning to-do list, it’s equally important to start prepping for the day the night before. You’ll thank yourself in the morning if your clothes are picked out for the day and you aren’t scrambling to find a matching sock.

Next, the biggest mistake people make with taking on early mornings is choosing to stay up instead of getting up early. Many people choose to get up 20 minutes before their class and rush out the door, while I prefer to have time to start my day. Therefore, it is important that you set your alarm wisely, giving you time to get ready, have breakfast and mentally prepare for the day. When the dreaded hour arrives and your soul crushes just a bit as you hear the vile sound of your alarm, it’s important to take the initiative to begin a good day the right way.

First thing to do in the morning before anything else is drink water. I keep a liter of water next to my bed so it’s the first thing I wake up to. Water on an empty stomach purifies the colon and makes it easier to absorb nutrients, according to undergroundhealthreporter.com.

Next, if you were generous enough with your time management, you should make sure to have breakfast before you head out. My favorite choice for breakfast is oatmeal with almonds, honey (or agave nectar) and cinnamon. Oatmeal is much more substantial than cereal or any granola bar, and the protein from the almonds will keep you full. Whether you’re in the Residence Halls or have your own stove, this power breakfast is accessible with just a microwave.

The next thing that makes mornings more bearable to me is the miraculous and sensational existence of coffee. Now, not to say that caffeine is always the answer, but if you need a boost coffee or tea is your best option. Stay away from seeking energy from soda or energy drinks, as sharpbrains.com explains. Coffee will assist you in mental alertness.

Now that you’ve fulfilled every task necessary to nourish your body and wake up your mind, it is important that your body attends to the wakeup call.

If you can fit in a morning workout, don’t even think, just do. It is a 100 percent guarantee of a good day with a side of endorphins firing left and right, leaving you feeling happy, positive and ready to take on the day.

Now, I understand that there is more to a morning workout than getting yourself out of bed, it’s hard to push yourself when you’re so tired. So the answer to this? Group fitness classes at 6:30 a.m.

If you have a gym membership here on campus, you can stop by the Williams Center for early morning yoga or an empowering combination of Insanity and yoga, or stop by University Fitness for cycling at 6:30 a.m. You did your part getting out of bed; let the fun and enthusiastic instructors motivate you.

I used to dread waking up early, but within the first couple weeks of classes I’ve discovered what I can all accomplish before it’s even 10 a.m.

Mornings are a great representation of what the rest of your day will look like, make it a good one and you will thrive through the rest of the day.