How to Plan Morning Routines for Teenagers? 3+ Smart Steps with Tips | 2024 Reveals
Let's talk about something that might not sound super exciting at first, but can seriously change your life: morning routines for teenagers. I get it. Mornings aren't exactly a teen's favorite time of day. But stay with me, because having a good routine in the morning can make a massive impact.
A good morning routine has a lot of great bonuses. Your grades might get better if you are more focused and ready for school when the day starts. If you put sleep, food, and self-care at the top of your list, your mental and physical health might get better. You'll probably have more time for the things you enjoy, like hobbies, hanging out with friends, or just taking it easy. And feeling like you've accomplished something at the start of each day can boost your confidence and make the rest of the day better.
Yay, creating a morning routine isn't always a walk in the park. That snooze button can be pretty tempting. I get it. But don't worry, we'll tackle this together. In this article, let’s talk about how to plan morning routines for teenagers that are both effective and enjoyable!
How to Create Morning Routines For Teenagers (3 Essential Steps)
Set Your Goals
Before diving into morning routines for teenagers, it's crucial to think about what you want to get out of it. Your habit and drive will be shaped by your goals.
These could be some of your goals:
- Get enough sleep
- Eat a healthy breakfast
- Have some me time
- Be ready for school
Remember that the most important thing is to set reasonable goals that you can work towards over time.
Plan Your Steps
Now, let's break down your morning routines for teenagers into manageable chunks.
Wake-up time
This is the most important part of your routine, so choose a time that lets you get enough sleep and get ready without having to rush. You may have to try a few different things before you find the right mix. Once you do, try to stick to it.
Getting ready
This includes the most basic things like cleaning your teeth, washing your face, and getting rid of that bed head. Think about which order works best for you. While some people like to shower in the morning, others find it more relaxing to do it at night. You can't just follow one method. Try different things until you find the one that makes you feel the best and most ready to start the day.
Getting fuel
Eat breakfast to give your brain the fuel it needs for the day. Having a piece of fruit and some yogurt is enough. It doesn't have to be fancy. If you don't usually feel hungry in the morning, eat something small and light to start and then work your way up to a bigger meal.
Prepping for the day
This is all about getting your things together ahead of time so you don't have to rush around at the last minute. This could mean getting your backpack ready, making sure you have your homework, and getting together anything you need for events after school. Getting this done the night before will help you feel less stressed in the morning.
Me-time
Give yourself time to do something you enjoy, even if it's only for a short time. As an example, you could read a chapter, do some light stretches, or listen to your favorite podcast. Doing something you enjoy first thing in the morning can help you feel good for the rest of the day.
Pro tip: Use a planner or an app like Habitify to keep track of your routine. It's like having a personal assistant, but not one who is rude. You can see your progress over time and stay on track with these tools.
Get Enough Sleep
Let's talk about the MVP of morning routines for teenagers - sleep! Aim for 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Your brain and body really do need it, even if it sounds like a lot when you're busy with school, extracurriculars, and friends. Your body heals itself, stores memories, and processes information from the day while you sleep. A good night's sleep is the key to a smooth morning routine. When you're well-rested, everything else becomes easier.
To improve your sleep, try these hacks:
Set a regular time to go to bed
Yes, even on the weekend. Having a regular sleep routine can be hard to do when you don't have to go to school the next day, but it helps your body's internal clock stay in sync. This helps you fall asleep and wake up on your own.
Set up a relaxing sleep routine
This could mean doing something like a warm shower, reading a book, or slowly stretching. Getting your body to know it's time to sleep is important. Find things to do that help you relax.
Don't look at screens before bed
This is one of the hardest things for teens to do. Phones, tablets, and computers give off blue light that can stop your body from making melatonin, a hormone that controls sleep. Put your electronics away at least an hour before you go to sleep. If that doesn't seem possible, you could use glasses or apps that block blue light to lessen the effect.
Tips for Starting Your Morning Routine
Take It Slow
Rome wasn't built in a day, and the best way for teens to start their day doesn't exist overnight either. The key to success is to take small steps at first and work your way up to your ideal practice over time. Don't try to change everything about your morning at once; you'll just get frustrated and give up.
Instead, try going at it slowly:
Week 1: Just make sure you wake up at the time you set. It could be hard to do this by itself, especially if you normally sleep in. Don't think about anything else; just focus on rising when your alarm goes off.
Week 2: This time, in addition to getting up on time, you should also eat a good breakfast. This doesn't need to be fancy; a piece of fruit and some yogurt are wonderful. You want to give your body and mind the food they need for the day.
Week 3: Take some time for yourself. One easy way to do this is to meditate, do some light stretches, or read a few pages of a book for five minutes. The important thing is that you take care of yourself before getting busy with the day's tasks.
Don't forget that slow and steady wins the race! Try not to do too much at once and get tired. Instead, make small changes that you stick to over time. Allow yourself some time and enjoy each small win along the way.
Make Your Mornings Enjoyable
The key to sticking with morning routines for teenagers is to actually enjoy them!
You shouldn't dread your schedule. It should be something you look forward to. Get ready for a better start with these ideas:
Play your favorite music: Make a playlist for the morning that gets you going and makes you feel good. Music has the power to change the mood of your day.
Do something you enjoy: Do something you enjoy for a short time. This could be drawing, writing in a diary, pet play, or anything else that makes you happy. Positive thoughts can make your whole day better if you start it off right.
Eat what you love: You don't have to eat standard breakfast foods for breakfast. You can eat whatever you want. You can have a meal or even pizza that you already ate if you'd rather. It's important to feed your body well with something you enjoy. Just make sure you get some protein and complex carbs to stay focused and full.
Prep the night before: If you don't like getting up early, you might want to do as much of your prep work the night before. Sort your clothes, put your bag together, and maybe even make breakfast. This can help you feel less stressed in the morning and give you more time to do the fun things in your routine.
Wrapping It Up
Creating morning routines for teenagers might seem like a big task. But I want to give you a gentle reminder: Be patient with yourself as you're forming new habits Sometimes things don't go as planned along the way on the way to becoming automatic. Yes, that's normal, and it doesn't mean you failed.
And, try different things to see what works best for you. You might find that you enjoy yoga in the morning or that reading the news with food makes you feel more connected and ready for the day. Your schedule should be made to fit your specific wants and needs.
Every day is a new chance to start fresh. Ready to give it a shot with me?
FAQs
What should a 14-year-old be doing every day?
A 14-year-old should find a balance between schoolwork, exercise, good habits, and hanging out with friends. Some examples of this are setting aside time to do homework and study, playing a sport or exercising, eating well, getting enough sleep, and spending time with family and friends.
What is the best morning routine for high school?
For high school, the best way to start the day is to get up early enough to avoid being rushed, eat a good breakfast, and give yourself time to get ready mentally. This could mean going over notes, making lunch, or just resting with a book or music before leaving.