As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, habits can be created and broken. With the responsibilities of school, work, and some sort of social life, everything can get stressful. Dedicating the time in ourselves wisely in order to be productive, efficient, and, most importantly, happy, is detrimental in having a successful semester. By trying these five tips to have a better morning routine, your fall transition will be a breeze!

PHOTO: Amber Sudra

1– Fuel Your Body

We are all guilty of hitting the snooze button a few more times than necessary, thus leading to a highly stressful and messy rush to get to class. Making it a priority to wake up not only early, but with enough time to sit down and enjoy a small and healthy breakfast will radically improve your day. Breakfast comes in a variety of ways, and it’s okay to experiment with what works best for you and your appetite.

PHOTO: Rachel Zuckerberg

2–Take Care of Your Skin

I’ve learned that our skin routines must continuously be tweaked in order to protect ourselves from harsh weather. Hence, in the colder weather, it’s extremely important to moisturize! As you get ready in the morning, just throw on a low-maintenance face mask to keep you hydrated.

PHOTO: Lex Kelly

3–Dress for Yourself

I get it, it’s dark outside and you’d rather go to class in your pajamas and get some extra z’s in the morning. Trust me, I understand. But I will tell you that I have 10x more productivity on days that I actually put a little effort in my look rather than not. By dressing more purposefully it boosts my confidence and allows me to tackle the day with focus and pride.

PHOTO: Hanna Benoski

4–Do Something for You

By waking up with a little more time and a lot less hurry, you create an opportunity to invest your time into something just for you. With just ten or fifteen minutes, I can dedicate my time to cultivate things that are important to my mental health. Reading, listening to a podcast, or even putting make-up on can change the way I view the rest of my day. Cherish this time and ensure that it’s incorporated into your routine.

5–Prepare Ahead of Time

Finally, my favorite tip and the most important, plan ahead. Utilize the time you have before bed to meal-prep your lunch, pick out what you’re going to wear, and what you’ll need for classes/work the following day. Planning in advance will remind you of things you would have forgotten in the morning as you rush out the door. This step will ensure a smooth morning routine and a stress-free semester.

PHOTO: Cassidy Clark

The seasons to come are full of adventures, achievements, and wonderful memories; don’t miss out on them! These easy tips have helped me get through the cold months and will help you too.

Tell us how these morning routine tips worked to help your fall transition in the comments below!

Featured photo by Lex Kelly.