*Beep beep beep beep” ughhhhhh, here we go again. It’s the crack of dawn on a Monday morning, the sun isn’t even up yet, and here, once again, you find yourself crawling out of bed, yawning, and about to start another repetitive week. Whether it’s your 9-5 grind at your desk job, or sitting in for yet another week of classes, it’s the same cycle again and again on repeat. Maybe you’ll get a break on the weekend or maybe you’re counting down the days to Spring, or even Summer break, but what’s for sure is, you just want to get through the week. It’s the same routine, snoozing your alarm wishing you could just drift back to sleep then finally getting up and ready, maybe sip on a coffee while you sit in traffic, clock in, clock out, sit in traffic, cook, clean, go to bed, anddddd *beep beep beep beep* before you know it you’re up and starting the same exact day as yesterday.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. The way you live your life is all about your perspective and attitude. No matter what your personal circumstances are, the way you look at your life and your attitudes towards it affects it more than you know. You are in control of how you feel towards your life and the power is ultimately in your hands to switch it up. It probably sounds harder than it is, but once you get the art of romanticizing your life down, it truly does get better. How does this sound: *beep beep beep beep* you wake up and immediately switch your tired mindset to one that is positive, you’re excited to wake up and start the day, maybe after work you planned a walk with your friends, or maybe you made lunch break plans with a coworker. You blast good music on your way to work and you feel good about yourself. Even if it’s raining you don’t let that get you down cause that just means you can sip on a warm cup of tea and read a book when you get home. Just adding on little extra things to your day and stepping away from the repetitive cycle will do you a whole lotta good.
And I get it, life is hard, there’s going to be days when your alarm goes off and you wake up on the wrong side of the bed. You’re just going through the motions to get through to the end of the day. But is that really how you want to live? I mean having a job and working Monday through Friday is pretty much unavoidable unless you’re a millionaire. You have to do it. So if you hate it, why not at least try to make it somewhat enjoyable. Romanticize every little part of your life, treat it like you’re at the star of a movie. Because let’s be real, if we’re spending most of our lives working, why not romanticize the hell out of it? The little things aren’t so little when they help you find joy in the ordinary.
As a full time student myself, I understand the weekly dread that a lot of other students may feel when Sunday night creeps out of what feels like nowhere. You know you’re going to have to repeat the same week, feel stressed with classes, maybe you even have a part time job that’s getting you down but it’s all about changing your mindset and perspective. And although it may sound corny, it works to just think positive. You are lucky to be able to go to school, it’s a privilege. And think about it this way, one day you will move on from school, graduate, and get a real job. There’s a lot less flexibility in a real job. No more “my dog ate my homework” or “I tried but I just couldn’t get it done”. It will probably just get a lot harder from here on out so why not start romanticizing your life now to set yourself up for success in the future.
Mastering the art of romanticizing your life is something that takes time and definitely isn’t linear. But I have been able to nail some things down myself that for sure get me out of that negative mind set to one that is learning to play with a set of cards I’m dealt in a positive and optimistic way.
- Get Excited About Your Morning Routine
First of all if you don’t have a good morning routine, create one that you enjoy. Learning to turn your morning into something you enjoy rather than something you dread can change how your whole day can go. For me I love matcha, so getting out of bed knowing that I can start my day with a delicious matcha helps get me up and going. Don’t be shy to make things easier for yourself as well. The mornings are already hard enough as it is, so why not do things in the evening for yourself that you will be thankful you have done for yourself in the morning. I prep my lunch for the day, or maybe even plan what I’m going to have for breakfast so it’s just one less thing for me to think about early in the morning. I find laying out my outfit before bed is also another thing that helps me because then I can roll out of bed and be ready to go.
- Get Ready
Like most people, I find it difficult to get up in the morning. I’m just so tired and groggy the last thing I want to do is put on jeans and do my hair. But when I do this, 12 o clock comes and I just feel like a slob. Getting ready for yourself in the morning, whatever that may look like for you, can help you with the flow of your day. For me I’ve realized it’s helpful to opt for jeans and say no to that comfy sweatsuit because I just feel overall more put together and confident. Taking an extra 10 minutes for yourself in the morning will lead to a better 10 hours throughout the day.
- Learn To Love Your Commute
Traffic is the worst, but bump your favourite tunes, call a friend you haven’t talked to in awhile, and the time will fly. It’s just all about romanticizing the little things, pretending you’re the main character in your favourite movie and you’re on the way home from your glamorous job blasting your favourite artist. Belt out all the lyrics at the top of your lungs and just enjoy the ride. Think, when you were 16 you were dying to get behind the wheel, now it’s just an everyday thing for you, enjoy it!
Life is too short to be left upset at the way our lives are turning out. Having a job is inevitable, but the way you handle everything is up to you. Romanticizing every little detail about your life down to what coffee creamer you use or even the fun matching socks you have on will make your day just that much better. Be your own main character and director because the way you look at life is all in your control.