Morning routines before school can be considered an integral part of students’ identity. The exact time one wakes up, how they get ready, necessary tasks one might do, and the way one presents themselves for school vary drastically depending on the student. Whether someone wakes up 10 minutes before school or three hours, tells something about the person and who they are. Some may journal or immediately make breakfast when they wake up, communicating something different. Some students have a two-hour makeup routine, while others take 10 minutes to only look presentable with no makeup at all. Each aspect of students’ morning routines is important in that it contributes to a characteristic of their personality and who they are.
Some may overlook the significance of a high schooler’s morning routine, in that it’s not crucial to their school day. However, this is an absolutely wrong interpretation according to students. Although something like the time a student
wakes up, doesn’t seem important, it greatly impacts the entirety of their day. AGHS junior Lucy Afsari currently tries a new morning routine, consisting of waking up at 5 a.m. and finishing homework early in the morning at Starbucks.
“I wake up at 5 a.m. because it clears my head. I think I do homework in the morning too because it makes me feel like I’m trying my best, and I have a sense of motivation when I go to school,” Afsari (‘27) said.
The time students wake up goes beyond just a time, but rather reflects a necessary standardized schedule for some students.
“I wake up at 6:00 a.m. on school mornings. My morning routine reflects that I like to stay on a schedule because if I end up waking up at different times every morning, it throws me off and stresses me out,” Elena Saldana (‘27) said.
Yet, other students do not wake up early and get a head start on their day, instead prioritizing sleep. While waking up early can enhance one’s motivation and productivity, studies show that sleep can actually help teens retain information; not enough sleep affects students’ attention span in school (Baylor College of Medicine).
“I usually wake up around 7:00, I don’t really care if I wake up too late,” Aaron Perez (‘27) said.
How one presents themselves for school, from their hair, face, and outfit, is another important factor of high school students’ morning routines. As students undergo developmental factors contributing to identity formation, appearance is a major aspect of identity to some students.
“I usually take 40 minutes to do my hair and makeup in the morning, maybe longer if I want to curl my hair. I also fall asleep thinking about what I’m going to wear the next day, so I have at least an idea,” Afsari (‘27) said.
Students report that the “look good, feel good” aspect is significant in their motivation to go to school. It’s suggested by AGHS students that the simplicity of feeling their best inspires them academically as well.
“The days that I just throw my hair up and don’t get ready, I tend to also not want to complete anything academic, but when my hair looks good, makeup is done, and outfit is together, I feel a lot better and want to accomplish so much more in school,” Saldana (‘27) said.
In contrast, other students don’t consider their appearance as significant to their morning routines.
“My appearance at school is kind of, but not super important to me,” Perez (‘27) said.
Appearance-focused or not, the level of importance students place on their appearance suggests that some students value self-presentation while others have different priorities. These everyday choices students implement communicate their priorities and overall self-perception.
Podcasts, increasingly rising in popularity and consumption, are especially significant to background noise in morning routines. Podcasts involve multitasking, consuming information while usually doing another task like cleaning, cooking, getting ready, etc., simultaneously. Productivity is a primary reason why people engage, feeling as if they’ve learned something new while doing other tasks concurrently (National Library of Medicine).
“I listen to the podcast ‘Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain’ while in the car driving to school. I love listening to her podcast in the morning because I feel so productive and they’re very therapeutic,” Afsari (‘27) said.
Others listen to podcasts while getting ready, similar to how most teens listen to music, but podcasts include a productive aspect of information.
“I usually like to listen to a podcast while doing my makeup for school, I feel like it’s really motivating for the rest of my day,” Saldana (‘27) said.
While some may overlook the tiny details of students’ morning routines, each task is a deep reflection of their priorities and sense of self. From the time one wakes up to how they get ready, each choice shapes how students feel and how they perform in school. Although morning routines differ drastically from student to student, one thing is for certain: morning rituals matter.
