A Different Kind of Power Hour

By: Lianna Hursh

It’s about that time of the year—that awkward two-month period just after spring break. You just hopped of the plane from “PV,” acquired serious digestion issues, and no longer know how to think or feel. You haven’t felt this concerned or confused since ninth grade when you joined the softball team and thought you might be a lesbian for a solid five minutes– only five though, definitely not six.

Making that last push to summertime is never easy, especially in Syracuse where it literally snows in May. Luckily, there are a bunch of ways to “amp up” your day, and make the last two months of school just a little bit easier. It all starts with a good ol’ fashioned morning boost. A solid wake-up routine can do wonders for your mental health—at least that the doctors say.

Here are my recommendations to kick off the day:

Meditation. Meditation is one of those things that everyone feels weird doing. Forget the notion that meditation is for wannabe hipsters—it really is one of the best ways to alleviate stress. Waking up just five or ten minutes early for a meditation sesh can be a real game changer. Plus, Buddha knows his shit.

Stretch. Stretching in the morning is a go-to wake up method. College equates to stress and tension, that's always been obvious. On top of that, according to The American Council on Exercise, fluids tend to build up in our joints and backs while sleeping horizontally, which can cause you to wake up feeling like an arthritic sixty-year-old. Taking 5-10 minutes every morning to limber up will alleviate this build up and also increase blood flow to give you an extra boost to kick off your day.

Drink water. Water is the elixir of life--no, not that double espresso in your hand. While most people are quick to jump to coffee in the morning, a glass of cold water has far more benefits. When you sleep your body loses water, so drinking a glass right when you wake up not only replenishes your juices but also gets rid of toxins and fires up your metabolism. Don't even get me started on all the benefits of a fast metabolism.

Let me know how it works. Or not—whatever.