Why I’m a Morning Person in College

Yes, you read that right. I’m a morning person and I’m a college student. I know that’s a rare pairing, but I love it! College doesn’t have to mean late nights spent studying or even having to pull all-nighters. I can tell you that I (somehow) manage to get 8 hours of sleep a night, stay on top of my school work, and have a social life.

Here are my reasons why I’m a morning person, even in college.

1. sleep

What? Being a morning person means you still get sleep?? Well, I don’t stay out partying all night, and I don’t stay up studying until ungodly hours in the morning. For me, I need my sleep. Granted, I do sacrifice my social life a bit to be in bed and asleep by 10:30 pm (yes, even on weekends), but sleep is worth it. I don’t know about you, but I cannot function on no sleep. You don’t want to be around me if I get less than 5 hours.

Because I go to bed at 10:30 (which is considered early by most college students, but a lot of people go to bed around then), it allows me to get a full 8 hours of sleep by the time I get up at 7. Yes, seven o’clock. Hey, I have 8:30s every morning. And trust me, I planned it that way.

By getting a full night’s sleep, I’m able to focus more during the day and be more productive. I don’t find the need to have that two o’clock nap, and I’m ready to start the day. Just because you may not be a morning person now doesn’t mean you can’t train your body to be one.

2. allows me to have “me” time

Becoming a morning person means dedicating some time for yourself. For me personally, I cut off my work (being school or blogging) at 8 o’clock at night. This gives me about two and a half hours to decompress and take my mind off of the stress that comes with college. I’m able to take a nice, long, hot shower without rushing to get out. I’m able to sit and catch up on all of the YouTube videos I missed during the day.

I treat college like a 9-5 job. Except in my case it’s 8:30-8. That’s a long time to work and focus on things. I find that if I’m working right up until the time I go to bed, I’m stressed about my work and school and just life. Taking this time to focus on me allows me to succeed in school and in sleep. I’m able to just let everything go and focus on sleeping instead of that big chem test the next day.

3. no crowds

Have you ever ventured across campus at 7:45 in the morning? There’s no one out. Seriously, there’s no one. All of our breakfast places open at 7:30 during the week, and because there’s no one out that early, that means I don’t have to wait in any kind of line to get my bagel and coffee. For me, that’s totally worth it.

Have you ever gone to the gym at 8:00 in the morning on a weekend? There’s no one there. Well, there are people there, but those are the people who take their workouts seriously. I really like just getting up and hitting the gym in the mornings because I’m half asleep and the workout doesn’t seem near as painful. That means not having to wait on a machine you want to use. You just go in, work out, and get out. Easy as that.

I also love how peaceful campus is at early hours in the morning. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and there’s no noise. No sounds of people talking. No sounds of skateboards rolling across the bricks. No sounds of music playing from people’s backpacks. The silence of campus in the mornings is magical. 

So, now you’re considering becoming a morning person, right? No lines, more sleep, and more time for you! My #1 tip for becoming and maintaining your morning person status is to stay consistent. Like I said, I go to bed at 10:30 pm on week days and weekends. This keeps my body used to a specific schedule. Your body loves consistency in its schedule.

Are you a morning person? Do you want to be a morning person? What are your favorite parts of the morning? Let me know in the comments! Thank you for taking the time to stop by!

~Abigail Gray