6 Simple Steps To A Mindful Morning Routine For Students

By Sophia Mold, MA Creative Writing at University of Lincoln

Want to earn money writing for Student Beans? Apply here.

Mindfulness is crucial, especially while living a hectic, stressful student life.

The first step is to have an established sleep schedule and time that you wake up every day, and the most important thing to remember when thinking about your morning routine is: don’t rush!

Hopefully, these steps can help add an element of positivity and relaxation to your morning routine.

1. Don’t instantly reach for your phone

Leave the technology alone for a little while after waking up.

If you look at your phone straight away, you’ll be immediately bombarded with uni work, your job, your to-do list, the news, social media, etc. and this can bring on unnecessary stressful and anxious emotions.

So, to start your day positive and fresh, ignore your phone and other technology for a while.

2. Time to hydrate

There are so many physical and mental benefits to drinking water, and first thing in the morning is one of the best times to make sure you have a glass.

A cup of water when you wake up can help with rehydrating your body after a long time without any food or drink, as well as with digestion and cleaning out your body, and with your mood, brain function, and energy levels.

3. Practice gratitude

Thinking about what you are grateful for is a great way to start your day off with a positive mindset.

Setting this outlook in the morning will positively influence your day by helping you carry this good attitude through the rest of your day and through everything you do.

Try writing down or taking a mental note of three things you are grateful for, every day when you wake up, and notice the impact and benefits this has.

4. Make getting up exciting

It can be hard to find the motivation to get up on time some mornings, especially on the weekends, or if you have a day off uni, or had a heavy night out the night before.

So, it’s a good idea to entice yourself out of bed with things you love. You could have a cosy dressing gown or comfy pair of slippers waiting for you, or make sure you have all the ingredients to make your favourite breakfasts.

These things will hopefully make you excited to start your day, and make getting out of bed easier; this way, you can begin your day in a happy and positive light.

5. Exercise your mind

Don’t be put off by the dreaded word ‘exercise’. While physical exercise, even just a short walk in the morning, is one option, there are other ways to warm up your brain.

Getting your mind active can be done through reading, writing, colouring, puzzles, meditation, or journaling. It’s just about getting your brain prepared for the day ahead.

6. Set your intentions for the day

Further prepare your mind for the rest of the day by setting out some intentions and visualising how you would like your day to go.

These can be targets for work or studying, finding time to see friends, ticking things off your to-do list, following a personal mantra, doing something out of your comfort zone, sticking to a routine, doing something that makes you happy, a goal related to mental health or physical health, making time to relax, or literally anything under the sun!

However, it is important to remember that it is not the end of the world if your day doesn’t turn out the way you had planned, or if you don’t meet a goal or intention you set out for the day.

After all, a secret to mindfulness is letting every situation be what it is, instead of what you think it should be, and then making the most of it!

These steps are a great place to start with creating your own mindful morning routine, and can help you start your day off with a positive outlook too.

Want to make your bedroom even more zen? Here’s how to personalise your uni room for cheap.