There’s no one size fits all 5am morning routine for students in college.
A weekly schedule that’s jam packed with classes, tutoring sessions, club meetings, sports practice, and, let’s not forget parties, can feel very much like the hunger games.
Many college students are in a race against time every single day. There are some students that benefit from structured days. Overtime, they develop good habits and follow routines.
Daily planning helps to maintain a healthy school, work, life balance for students.
College students who use productivity apps, to-do lists, or some form of planning are typically more productive and know how to add extra hours to their day.
They take a strategic approach to building their school schedules each semester or quarter.
One of the most common hacks for scheduling classes in college is getting 2-3 days off to study, relax, socialize and indulge in extracurricular activities.
An uncommon hack that’s known for increasing productivity is becoming an early riser. Early risers share a similar interest in maximizing their time each day.
Most college students sleep in until it’s time to get up for their first class. They wash up, throw on clothes, and grab coffee to help them stay awake.
They’re yawning through lectures, unable to take notes, and dehydrated, too.
Don’t let this be you, goal friends.
Many successful students have a morning routine in place that starts as early as 5am.
Let’s explore what a 5am morning routine for students in college looks like!
What is the 5 to 9 morning routine?
A 5 to 9 morning routine can offer various benefits, particularly for college students.
The 5 to 9 morning routine aids in increasing productivity, improves mental and physical health, enhances academic performance, and reduces stress and anxiety.
It also helps with personal growth and development, increased creativity and problem-solving skills. Intentional activities conducted in morning routines may yield different benefits.
14 Advantages Of A 5am Morning Routine For Students In College
- Uninterrupted Time – Early mornings are often quiet, which allows for focused and undisturbed work or study
- Head Start – Completing important tasks before the day officially begins can reduce stress and increase overall productivity
- Mindfulness Practices – Incorporating mediation, journaling, or yoga can enhance mental clarity and decrease anxiety
- Sense of Accomplishment – Achieving several tasks before others are awake can boost self-esteem and motivation
- Consistent Exercise – Morning workouts can become a regular part of your routine, improving physical fitness and energy levels
- Healthy Diet – Having time for a nutritious breakfast can lead to better dietary choices throughout the day
- Quality Study Time – Early morning study sessions can be more effective due to increased focus and few distractions
- Regular Review – Consistently reviewing course notes each morning can help with better retention and understanding
- Habit Formation – A structured morning routine helps in establishing discipline and can positively influence other areas of your life
- Time Management – Learning to manage time effectively in the morning can translate to better time management skills overall
- Consistent Sleep Schedule – Waking up early can encourage going to bed at a reasonable time, leading to more consistent and quality sleep
- Fresh Mind – Early mornings bring a fresh perspective, making it an ideal time for creative projects and problem-solving
- Learning Opportunities – You can use extra time in the morning for personal development activities, such as reading, learning new skills, or engaging in hobbies.
- Preparation Time – Having ample time to prepare for the day can reduce the rush and associated stress, leading to a calmer and more organized approach to daily tasks
Being an early riser doesn’t sound so bad after all, huh?
You don’t have to become a morning person overnight. Slip gradually into the new routine. Implementing a 5 to 9 morning routine can significantly enhance various aspects of a student’s life, fostering both personal and academic growth.
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What is the perfect morning routine for school?
A perfect morning routine depends on your daily schedule, but keeping it consistent is key. That way, you can make adjustments as much as you need.
- 5:00 AM – Wake Up
- 5:40 AM – Gym, Light Cardio, Yoga, or Pilates
- 6:30 AM – Listen to a podcast or recite positive affirmations for daily motivation
- 7:00 AM – Shower
- 7:30 AM – Skincare + Makeup
- 8:00 AM – Healthy Breakfast
- 8:20 AM – Mindful meditation or journaling
- 8:30 AM – Study Session/Review Daily Plan
- 9:00 AM – Head to class or work study
Use this 5am morning routine example to start or build on it to create your own. Try to avoid including screen time or the use of your phone.
Some people prefer to watch the news or respond to late night text messages first thing in the morning.
It’s much healthier and productive to start the day off with a clean slate, which means no outside influences or overstimulation by death scrolling on the phone.
Start your day off with a clear mind instead of subjecting yourself to fear-mongering and disappointment. This is important for reaching your daily and monthly goals.
Distractions in the morning can set the premises for disaster. Texts and phone calls from friends and family that aren’t urgent can wait.
Resolve the tiff between you and your boyfriend later. The nonsensical banter you engage in online doesn’t require your attention first thing in the morning.
Reserve hobbies and leisure activities for the afternoon or evening. Mornings should be solely about your mental health and self care.
What should I do at 5 in the morning?
Refrain from abruptly jumping up from your bed. It’s perfectly fine to wake up slowly. Open the curtains when the sun is up to soak in some Vitamin D.
Leave your alarm clock across the room, so you’re forced to get out of bed to turn it off.
We’re abandoning the snooze button girlies. When you’re up, you’re up.
Make up your bed and let your phone continue to rest.
A good practice is keeping your phone on ‘sleep’ mode until later in the day. This will prevent you from hopping on to your favorite apps to further distract you from your sacred morning routine.
Get dressed in comfortable fitness attire. Whether you’re venturing out to the gym, taking a jog in nature, or staying in, don’t do your workout in bed or in pajama attire.
Fill a water bottle up with lemon, mint, and lime to get a head start on hydrating your body for the day.
Bask in the quiet and stillness of the early morning hours where you don’t have to drown out any outside noise.
Your dorm hall or apartment building probably isn’t bustling with activity at the crack of dawn.
Use the 5am wake time to collect your thoughts, reflect, and pray about what you’d like to accomplish in the next 24-hours.
Highly successful people adopt the habit of waking up at 5am for a reason.
The benefits apply to high-performing college students, too.
With more time in the morning, you can prepare a well-balanced meal, high in protein, fruits, and vegetables.
Eating healthy will improve your cognitive function and the ability to focus while in class.
An early start to the day provides you with more time to study as well. Early risers need an adequate amount of sleep. Aim for at least 7-9 hours of sleep with a bedtime before 10pm.
Going to bed at a reasonable time prevents late night cram sessions. A substantial amount of course material studied the night before a morning exam is hard to remember.
The option to do a brief review session in the A.M. is always better than staying awake until the wee hours of the night.
Finally, make time in the morning to do a relaxing activity that you’ve been delaying. Make time for the things you like to do.
If you’re unable to do what brings you joy in the evening while in school, move it to the morning on your schedule. Whether it’s reading, crocheting, pottery, journaling, writing, do whatever brings you joy.
Waking up at 5 A.M. is a lifestyle change.
Figure out what works best for your morning routine. It’ll take some trial and error to nail it.
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How to be a 5 am person?
Ignore the naysayers
Normalize waking up at 5 A.M for yourself.
As long as you aren’t disturbing any of your roommates or the household you live in, the switch in schedule shouldn’t be anyone’s concern.
Some people will frown at your new wake up time and find it odd. You don’t have to share your reason with them.
No explanation is required.
As long as the change works for you, the time you start your day is no one else’s business but your own.
Create a morning routine list
Take some time to determine what you would like to accomplish from your morning routine.
How does your morning routine align with your personal and academic goals?
Select a few dates to wake up earlier and gradually slip into a 5 A.M. morning routine.
Research 5am morning routine ideas that you like and write a list you can pull from when developing your own.
Try out a morning routine checklist. It’s pretty easy for college students to create. Just remember to keep your class schedule and extracurricular activities in mind!
Set an earlier bedtime
There’s no way you’ll be able to operate at your full potential working on 3-5 hours of sleep.
Early risers aren’t going to bed at midnight and waking up to start their day hours later.
Not getting enough sleep can negatively affect your mental and physical health.
College can get hectic, overwhelming, and outright stressful.
You’re not a robot and need flexibility.
Choose the weekdays you plan to wake up at 5 A.M. If you’re out partying or working on a group project late at night, don’t guilt trip yourself.
You don’t have to follow a rigid schedule every week.
It’s unrealistic. Waking up early comes second nature to people who’ve been doing it for a long time. Resist jumping in head first without a plan in place.
Practice going to bed earlier and earlier. Once you have an adequate amount of sleep, you’ll feel comfortable waking up at 5 A.M. regularly.
Practice self-discipline
Make the commitment goal friends!
In order to become a 5am person, you need self-discipline. Therefore, repetition is key. Just waking up early, now and then, probably won’t serve your purpose.
That’s why it’s so important to pinpoint your ‘why’.
Why do you want to wake up earlier during the week?
How does a morning routine contribute to the achievement of your weekly goals?
Are you committed to this lifestyle change for you?
It’s common to pick up habits from friends and family.
Make sure you’re intentional about the schedule change.
If you’re only doing it a few days here and there, or copying off of a close friend that recommended it, committing to the 5 A.M. life may not be for you.
Determine how waking up earlier will positively affect your performance as a student.
5am morning routines don’t work for everyone.
Some people are naturally more productive at night and that’s completely fine.
Identify the strategies that best suit you, establish limits, and consistently follow them for at least two weeks before giving up.
Need an easy daily planner to create your own version of the best 5am morning routine for students? Download the ‘Daily Routine Planner Printable’ plan today!
I teach entrepreneurs how to simplify their life and business with less + own their time and maximize productivity towards their personal and monetary goals.
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