The Start of Taking A Break

Welcome to the first official blog post of Take A Break. This blog series is focusing on mental health and the quick and easy things we can do every day to get our lives back on track. Whether you are still a student, working from home, or living the post-grad high, I sincerely hope some of these tips might help. From week to week, we are focusing on different aspects of our lives that we can improve with just 30 minutes a day, and sometimes, well, most of the time, even less. Mental health has always been very important for me, but in the last year, I realized that in order to help others around me, I needed to turn and look into a mirror first. This is exactly that, you and I figuring this life thing out together, but first, we are going to start at the very beginning.

The Power of Morning Routines: Small Starts, Big Changes

Mornings can set the tone for the entire day, especially in college or just right after graduation. When schedules are packed or go from being so packed, just all free time now, stress can pile up fast. There are so many tips that mental health professionals remind us that it doesn't take a crazy morning routine to start the day on the right foot.

In fact, it's often the very small things we do every day that make the biggest differences in our lives. From how simple it is to do the first task of the day to walking out of the house, making sure you are hydrated. The first steps of the early morning have the possibility of becoming everyday resets. They are practical and doable steps that give you a stronger outlook on what's to come each day.

Making Your Bed: Start with a Win

In 2014, Admiral William McRaven delivered which would now become a commencement speech played over twenty million times. His message was ever so simple, but it delivered a message so powerful that millions relate to it daily. The message reads, "If you want to change the world, start by making your bed." Now, this is coming from a Navy SEAL; it may sound like that is something only soldiers should do; however, it holds so much weight for college and post-grad students.

The act of making your bed isn't just about the pillows and the blankets; it's about discipline, consistency, and beginning every day with a win. For students juggling all of the late nights, heavy coursework, and the uncertainty of post-grad life, the small victories create a ripple effect. McRaven comes from this, not just from his places in his military career, but from his understanding that life's biggest challenge sometimes is not being able to see that stacking the small habits together, you are already winning.

Get Natural Light Early

Long before alarms, coffee, and phones became a thing, our bodies were designed to wake up with the sun. Morning light isn't just a way to decrease your electric bill; it's also a way the sun is telling you to literally rise out of bed. Scientists and mental health professionals point out that natural exposure to light in the first hour of waking up boosts serotonin, which is that "feel-good" chemical that affects your energy and sleep. For college students and recent grads, this is game-changing. Instead of stumbling around to class half asleep, five minutes of sunlight can lift your mood and sharpen your focus; it's basically caffeine without the jitters.

This isn't a huge lifestyle switch. Open your blinds the second you wake up, sip on your water by the window, and go check your mail first thing in the morning. It's a small yet simple choice that could bring you a brighter outlook on the day before it even begins.

Breath or Meditation Exercise: Find Your Center

Being in college, especially after a weekend, we are dehydrated. AND BAD. We often underestimate how powerful something as simple as drinking water can be, especially first thing in the morning. We need to be grabbing water instead of our phones. After hours of sleep, dehydration can lead to grogginess, headaches, and a lack of focus before you've even started the day. Professionals point out that hydration plays a key role in our daily energy, mood, and concentration.

For college students and recent grads, grabbing a water before coffee can be the difference between trying to barely make it to class and actually feeling alert. Keeping a bottle of water next to your bed or in your backpack can change how you physically and mentally feel daily.

Limiting Screen Time: A Digital Break

One of the easiest traps to fall into in the morning, as a young adult in general, is grabbing your phone very first thing before you've even sat up. Social media, emails, and endless notifications can set the tone for the morning before you even get the chance to get out of bed. Granted, some of those notifications may be really good news, but research shows that starting the morning on a screen can increase many symptoms.

For college students, especially, it gives feelings of stress, distraction, and even feelings of comparison. Your chance to set your own agenda before the words pile on all starts with one simple task- don't pick up your phone. Try giving yourself 10-15 phone-free minutes to drink water, stretch, let in sunlight, and make your bed. You'll stay calmer, clearer, and in control.

Thank you for reading!

Ready to Transform Your Mornings?

Thank you for reading this week's blog! Come back next week for even more tips on easy changes to make the best out of your life!

Try incorporating one of these tips into your morning routine this week. Small changes can lead to significant improvements in your mental and physical health. Share this post with your friends and let's start our days off right, together!

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