HEALTH

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6 things that are killing your morning routine

Is that really your alarm ringing? Didn’t you just fall asleep? And darn, where the heck is your book bag? Mornings—ugh! There’s nothing worse than waking up and wishing you could pretend it was still Sunday. Unfortunately, ya can’t turn back time. But you CAN transform your morning routine. Here’s how.

#1: You hit the snooze button

Scientists have been harping on the fact that hitting the snooze button for another few minutes of sleep leaves you less refreshed than you were the first time you woke up. Instead, set your initial alarm for five minutes or ten minutes later, and resist the urge to slap “snooze.”

#2: You haven’t finished your homework

Freaking out about those five problems you “forgot” to finish last night is not how you want to spend your morning. And chances are worrying about it subconsciously last night impaired your sleep. Get it all done before you hit the hay—phew!

#3: Your closet is a mess

If you want to look great when you hit the halls and you don’t want to spend forever searching for your best-fitting pair of jeans, there is one simple solution: Spend five minutes (and that’s a max time) at night tidying up your closet and dresser drawers. That way, you’ll be able to find everything you want to wear in a snap. And it’ll be wrinkle-free.

#4: Your school stuff is everywhere

Forgetting your homework at home because it’s not in the first five places you looked before running out the door is a dumb way to lose points. Instead of dashing to and fro for textbooks and binders, do the smart thing and put them right back into your backpack as soon as you’re finished with them.

#5: You hang out in the dark

Research tells us time and again that darkness depresses our nervous system. It makes us sad and sleepy—so not ready to go out and tackle the day. As soon as you wake up in the morning, flip on the light and open your blinds. There! Isn’t that better?

#6: You aren’t being smart about your time

We get that you want to maximize snooze time—so do we. But if you’re constantly struggling to get out the door in time to make the bus, you might not be giving yourself adequate time in the a.m. to get everything done that you need to do. Figure out how much you really need by writing out your schedule. Estimate how much time you need to do the necessary things—and include everything from taking a shower to blowing out your hair to picking an outfit to grabbing breakfast to getting to the bus stop. Add another ten minutes to that total. If you just can’t get up early enough to accommodate your list, then consider doing some things the night before.

What’s your toughest morning problem? Tell us in the comments!

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