Here's a scenario: You wake up at the crack of dawn, and you look forward to your morning lecture. You take a cold shower after a workout consisting of push ups and jumping rope (or you join the bandwagon and try yoga). You have cereal and milk for breakfast while thinking of toasted bread and butter the following morning. You still have time, so you walk at a leisurely pace. You figure out that your exercise won't be good enough (to keep you awake during the rest of the day). This is the ideal morning routine, but the actual scenario will be further from the truth.
You rather wake up late after a bout of beer with dorm mates. (You might be chatting with your friends all night.) You're likely to miss the morning lecture. When you do wake up, you'll check on social media first. And you're sluggish during the rest of the morning. If you aren't wide awake, then trouble will come during that period for paper writing. This routine might not affect your performance during the first few weeks of the term, but there will be a succession of assignments and examinations during the following week. It's about time to make a resolution.
You must be able to exercise self discipline if you want to manage the coursework better. You'll write essays on a frequent basis. It's high time that you come up with a morning routine. If you become efficient (in doing it), then you'll have plenty of time for other things. You can devote it to reading, which will help you write long essays in a shorter time. More importantly, you won't miss a deadline. If you want to clear picture, then let's make up a routine. (What you're about to read is the same for everyone, more or less.) You must have a ritual before going to sleep. You must have a fixed time for sleeping, as well as waking up. You must set a time for exercising. You must read if you're not prepared for the lecture. You should opt for light breakfast, as you have to consume something every two hours or so.
Details Matter Most: Recommended Routines For You
You must read before you go to sleep. There's an upside to it: You're in a relaxed mood. You'll be able to enjoy reading in this state. Furthermore, it will make you sleepy after a few chapters or so. You shouldn't start doing it late at night especially if you have a lecture at 9 AM. (There's no substitute for a long sleep. It must be seven hours or more.) The best place to do it is in front of your study table. If your room has a comfortable couch, then you better read there. Your bed may be an option, but there's a danger of sleeping earlier than you expect. There's nothing wrong about it, but it's likely that you read little about the book. If it has something to do with the assignment, then read anywhere but in the bed. You should be asleep by 10 PM, not going beyond 12 MN.
Don't ever change your sleeping hours. Lack of sleep will change your mood, as well as resulting to lethargic movements that can affect your focus during the lecture. You may not be able to write at all, which can be the worst scenario for any student. Hitting the sack early has benefits, as you'll have more time for the morning ritual. (And there will be days when you won't get off the bed immediately.) If you can do it earlier than 10 PM, then the better.
Morning is the best time for exercising. You can do your workout at the end of the day, if not after attending your last lecture. However, exercising will keep your adrenaline up. It may not put you in the mood to unwind (and sleep). Early morning is the ideal time, and you don't have any excuse not to do it. (It will require twenty minutes or more.)
The early bird gets the worm. Let's rephrase it: You'll likely finish the book if you read it during the morning. For one, you're wide awake (after exercising and taking a bath). It's highly probable that you'll have idle time if you wake up very early. (Social media can wait.) Lastly, you'll notice your sense of urgency early on.
Heavy breakfast may not be good for you. Not all teenagers have a high metabolic rate, so it will be better to stick to cereal and milk. (You can opt for bread and cheese as well.) Snacking on a chocolate bar may not be right on a morning. An apple has benefits, but chewing gum can do.
Other Scenarios
If you're a night owl, then make sure that you don't fall asleep during the wee hours of the morning. It won't be helpful if you have a morning lecture. Coffee may be a life saver, but you can't rely too much on caffeine. This routine requires lots of self discipline on your part, as you may be sleepy during the afternoon. It could affect your concentration, so keep your social activities to a minimum. (You can make up for it on a weekend.)
You're not expected to do a routine with ease on your first day. If you keep it up for three weeks, then you won't have much problem afterward.
Tell your family and friends about it. They will encourage you, even provide the much-needed support. It may be trivial to your tutor, but don't hesitate to share it. Keep those essay writing tips to yourself, though.
