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Ah, summer. No finals, no classes, and no homework. The perfect time for college students to relax, recharge, and reset before doing it all again in fall.

At least that’s what summer is all about to me. I love using my summers to take things slower so that I’m all recharged come August.

But I don’t want to take things too slow. When I have absolutely zero responsibilities for too long, it leaves me feeling empty and unfulfilled.

So, I tend to keep myself mildly busy by working part time or working on various projects like this blog, or my shop!

This way, I get the best of both worlds: a less demanding summer schedule while still making progress at something I enjoy and saving up some extra cash for the semester.

My morning is a big part in setting myself up for a great summer day.

Much like the rest of my summer, my morning routine is a blend of productivity and relaxation.

Remember that your summer morning routine doesn’t have to be the epitome of productivity.

It can totally be that if you want it to be, but if not, that’s perfectly okay. For me, balance is key! Getting stuff done, while taking it easy. Waking up early, but not too early.

In this post, I’m sharing my summer morning routine as well as some general tips, advice, and everyday finds to help you make the most of your morning and your summer.

A small disclaimer: every morning looks a little different for me, especially with a much more laid back schedule in between semesters.

This post represents an average morning in my life as a college student in between semesters.

Productive Summer Morning Routine

Sometime Between 8-9: Wake Up

My alarm clock tells me it’s wake up time! The act of getting out of bed isn’t my favorite, but I make it enjoyable by throwing on some of my favorite tunes.

My top piece of advice if you have a hard time getting up: chug a glass of water and play some music.

Trust me, the vibes from the music will instantly be so much better and will help set the tone for a positive mindset.

The cold water will help to hydrate you after not drinking all night - plus it’s incredibly refreshing!

8: Straighten Up

Next, it’s time to begin my daily routine with a little cleaning. I always do a quick sweep, wipe down my surfaces, do laundry, and put any random objects back where they belong.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, cleaning is a fantastic way to help ease that feeling.

Personally, I find it so much easier to focus on what I need to with a neat apartment. Plus, it makes me enjoy my surroundings a lot more.

I’ve always got on a podcast, music, or a YouTube video while cleaning and doing other mindless tasks.

Podcast recommendations!

If you love lifestyle pods, check out Gals On The Go and On My Mind With Ava Jules.

Listening to either of those makes me feel like I’m chatting with friends and getting a pep talk!

Comedy/commentary?

Give RSlash a listen. It’s your daily dose of the best posts from all across Reddit and boy does it get good.

My other favorite in this category is Kurtis Conner’s Very Really Good podcast.

8:30: Freshen Up & Shower

Now that I’ve cleaned my space, it’s time to clean up myself.

This is when I’ll do usual morning hygiene tasks like brushing my teeth, washing my face, and showering.

If I have somewhere to be, I’ll get fully dressed and do some makeup, but if not, I’ll usually throw on something really comfy and skip makeup for the day.

9:30: Kitty Care & Playtime

Every morning, I do my “kitty care.” This is what I like to call all of the tasks associated with caring for my cat Cece.

These tasks usually consist of changing out her food and water, cleaning the litter box, brushing her fur, giving her treats, clipping her nails (1-2x monthly), or anything else that needs to be done.

I also like to spend some time playing with her in the morning.

Usually, this will either be me throwing a ping pong ball for her to chase or playing with one of her other hundred toys!

10:30: Make Breakfast & Coffee

At this point, I’m finally hungry enough to eat. I try to eat a healthy breakfast that’s also quick and easy to put together. Usually, it’s cereal, fruit, or a muffin paired with coffee or orange juice.

If I’m feeling fancy, maybe I’ll whip up some eggs and toast.

My coffee routine is pretty simple too. I use my trusty dusty Keurig coffee maker and pop in a vanilla Dunkin’ k-cup. Stir in some International Delight creamer, and I’m set.

I got my coffee maker as a Christmas gift and absolutely love the beautiful off-white color. It goes perfectly in my kitchen!

If you’re a coffee addict living in a dorm, definitely check out this mini Keurig.

It got the job done quite well for me when I lived in a dorm, and now that I live in an apartment, I have the space for my larger coffee maker.

By the way, if you want to totally elevate your morning coffee experience, get yourself a set of glass mugs and straws to drink your coffee out of.

Your coffee will look super pretty and taste better for some unknown reason, too.

10:45: Catch Up With The Internet

While I eat and sip on my coffee, I’m usually scrolling on my phone and reading the morning headlines, mainly through newsletters.

At this point, you can also find me scrolling other social media platforms (namely Instagram) and watching a little bit of YouTube.

11:15: Go For A Walk

Time to get some sunlight and enjoy the longer days during this time of year.

I definitely suggest getting out little bit every day if you can, especially while the weather is so nice (fellow upstate New York students know you’ve got to take full advantage of the sun before it disappears for six months in November).

For me, I’ll typically take a walk around my apartment complex while listening to a podcast or music with my headphones.

While I’m out, I take care of any tasks like picking up mail or taking out the trash.

12: Work On Business

After my walk, I’ll usually decompress and scroll some more or have a random snack.

But after that, I get to work writing content for this blog, or doing various tasks for my shop (designing products, listing items, answering customer inquiries, etc).

And that’ll take me into the afternoon and the rest of my daily routine!

Outro & Closing Thoughts

That wraps up my typical summer morning routine!

I hope this gave you some inspiration for your own summer morning routine and that you found a new favorite product or podcast to help you enjoy your morning.

Thanks for reading my post “The PERFECT Summer Morning Routine To Set The Tone For A Productive Day!”

If you loved this, be sure to check out these posts next:

7 Ways To Romanticize College Every Day (Aesthetic & Motivating)

25 Things NOT To Pack For Your Dorm Room (From A College Junior)

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The PERFECT Summer Morning Routine To Start A Productive Day!