It’s the beginning of spring and you know what that means: midterms. Those outside of college are enjoying themselves in their free time by going out, enjoying the nice weather, camping and becoming part of the rebirth that spring brings.
College students are stuck inside with their nose on the grindstone, waist deep in a pile of textbooks. With the spring fever in the air, it’s easy to get distracted. Here are seven daily rituals to help you have a productive day:
Wake up early
As the time-honored saying goes, the early bird gets the worm. While this might seem to be a trivial piece of advice, it really does help. Getting up early can brighten your day, just by the fact that you’re spending more time in sunlight. Sunlight increases concentrations and energy levels when an individual is exposed to it.
Furthermore, getting up early increases the amount of time you have in your workday as well as leisure time. Try getting an assignment done before class or going out for a jog, which calls to the second ritual.
Exercise in the morning
Exercising in the morning has the effect of increasing energy levels throughout the day as well as giving you the confidence of having accomplished something in the morning. If you're not into going to the gym, go for a quick run or even a brisk stroll. Just getting out of the house can be beneficial.
If the weather outside is poor, try doing bodyweight exercises or activities like yoga inside. Being active increases focus and motivation on top of being good for you. Like previously said, just getting started with the day can have a beneficial effect on the rest of the day. Once you get one thing done, you're much more likely to get other things on your agenda done.
Eat high-protein meals (and eat meals regularly)
Protein makes you feel fuller for longer and it gives a more stable source of energy than carbohydrates and fats (which have the potential to make you feel sluggish). Having a breakfast with eggs or meat can get your morning going easier if your stomach isn’t growling for food. Also, try to eat smaller meals regularly throughout the day so that you're never reeling from hunger and have a constant supply of energy to work on.
If you're vegetarian or vegan, make sure to prioritize protein-filled foods like legumes, nuts and fatty foods like avocados and olive oil in your diet. Focusing too much on carbohydrates while ignoring other macronutrients will only lead to fatigue and halt your productivity.
Make a schedule
Half of the stress of a day can come in not knowing what you’re going to do during it. If you make a schedule, it takes all of the guesswork out of the day. Routine is actually a good thing if you think about it. It gives you the ability to consistently prepare for the hard parts of a day as well as giving good parts to look forward to.
Meditate
Meditating can give you a moment of stillness in an otherwise chaotic day and a moment to refocus. It can be done in the morning to put you in a state of focus and rest for the remainder of the day, or it can be done at night in order to calm down and relax
There's a lot of advice on how to meditate out there, be it mantras to chant or thought exercises to run through as you sit and meditate. To be honest, the best thing to do is to just sit still and focus on your breathing. The aim is to try to feel your body, as weird as that might sound, and rest the mind. Meditation is best discovered through the simple act of trying. There is no “right’ way to do it.
Sleep
The benefits of a good night's rest need no explaining. How well or poorly you sleep can make or break your entire day. So, here's a few tips on getting a good night's rest:
- Go to bed at the same time every night. Your body runs on a clock, changing the time it wants you to sleep will result in you not sleeping.
- Avoid caffeine before bed. You drink coffee when you’re trying to stay awake, so why do the opposite?
- Work away from your bedroom. If you do all your work in your bedroom, you're just gonna think about it before you go to bed because it’s all done in the same place.
Take time to relax
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!”
Unless you’re planning on murdering your family in a hotel a la The Shining, spend some time doing things you enjoy. It gives the brain a good reset and eases anxiety. Make sure to spend some of your free time socializing. Seeing friends and loved ones is a huge confidence and energy boost. Not doing so makes you feel lonely and anxious.
