How I Made It On-Time⏰ To 8AM🌞 Classes
Makin' it On-Time to 8AMs
Hot mess look not included.
ITHACA, N.Y. -- The first time I was late to my 8am🌞 class, at the end I told my professor as he tried to shoo both me and my apology away, "I'm sorry. It won't happen again." It never happened again for that class or any other.
I often get some of my best work done after midnight and whether that’s the case or not, I have so much work that I can't finish it all and get the recommended 8 hours of sleep😴 a night.
I may be a morning person, but that doesn't mean I find waking up at 7am on four or five hours of sleep easy. In fact, I must be a snooze record breaker of some sort. There are a few apps and things that have made their way into my morning routine and I think there's bound to be one or two of them that will help you wake up, but more importantly stay up, too.
ALARMY
A screenshot of my Alarmy app. The background is the CNN Center's Studio 7 from when I went to shadow HLN Trending Correspondent, Melissa Knowles. Automatic morning inspiration.
This alarm is your annoying next door neighbor. She won’t stop playing music and fighting with her ex while her kids run up and down the halls until you get up and do something about it. Alarmy literally will not shut off until you do something as hard as solve math problems, scan a preset barcode, or take a preset picture! I set mine to barcode. When I downloaded the alarm, I scanned the barcode of the AP Stylebook that journalists always need on deck. Now, every morning the alarm will not turn off until I scan the barcode of that book. I keep it on my desk so I haveeeee to get out of bed in order to scan it. And you can’t scan something in the dark so I have to hit the lights, too. I credit this app with getting me up and out of bed daily (and possibly with annoying my roommate 😂🤭).
Shine
Part of waking up in the morning is having something that you are actually looking forward to embedded in your routine. Every morning Shine shoots me a text that tells me I’m awesome, and reminds me to guard things like my “surrrreeeee I’ll do your homework, watch your dog, and go with you to that party all for free🙃.”
Here’s a recent text they sent:
All about the hustle, Malick? Yeah you are. 💪🏾 But success doesn't have to = exhaustion.
Today, remember: there's no pride in burnout.
Heres my personal referral link just for you so your mornings can shine, too: www.shinetext.com/?r=AqNPMW3
Shine also just built an app and it’s very exciting with encouraging audio tracks. Check your app store if interested.
Gratitude Box
Cute boxes like these are available all over at malls. Just keep your eyes out and refuse to pay a lot of $$ for it!
I’m a firm believer in starting each day thankful for what you do have, instead of giving your wishlist that sad puppy face. I try to take a moment every morning to write down something I appreciate. It can be the fact that I learned something new, that I don’t hate my college roommate like so many others, or that I conquered a huge milestone. Big or small, I’m grateful for it all.
THESKIMM
Being a Journalism📰 major, I constantly get news updates, but it’s great to start the day informing yourself of the top stories in a way that’s friendly. I never want someone talking at me, I love discussing the news. TheSkimm does this greatly by having the voice of your best friend who takes no bull*bleep* tell you what’s up. With TheSkimm, I can't say..."But I needed that really important headline. THAT'S WHY I'M LATE. IT'S MY MAJOR!" I have no excuse because I can read TheSkimm on the go.
I love it so much I'm a Skimm'bassador. Here’s my personal referral link just for you: http://www.theskimm.com/?r=828da675
Morning Express with Robin Meade
Can you spot me in the background?? I'm on TV!
FAST-PACED MORNING NEWS OH MY GOSH. I absolutely Love Morning Express. You won’t get gruesome details of a murder, or an interview with the president (save that for later!!) — you get trending stories, a laugh, the weather, and of course the day's top stories. The colors on the screen are my favorite and I also love the personality and humanity the show and it’s people embody. Find a show that you love and can get ready to in the morning.
Thank you for reading.
With ❤️ and gratitude,
Malick
“‘I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.’ It never happened again for that class or any other.”