Describe a positive change you have made to your lifestyle

A positive change that I made about eighteen months ago was starting to wake up early and exercise before university. Before that, I was a typical night owl who stayed up until two in the morning, woke up barely in time for classes and survived on coffee and snacks.

The change began when I realised that I was tired all the time and couldn't concentrate in lectures. I decided to go to bed by eleven and get up at six, then run or do a short workout for around thirty minutes. I also started preparing a proper breakfast, usually porridge with fruit, instead of skipping it.

The first few weeks were extremely hard. My body wasn't used to waking up that early, and on some mornings I wanted to turn off the alarm and go back to sleep. The winter mornings were also dark and cold, which didn't help. Around the third week, I missed several days in a row and nearly gave up. What helped was finding a friend who was willing to run with me twice a week, as I didn't want to let him down. I also made the routine easier by preparing my clothes the night before.

The change has affected my life in many ways. I have much more energy, I sleep more deeply, and my concentration in class has improved. My marks went up as a result, and I feel calmer and more confident. It also gave me more time in the evenings, because I'm no longer wasting hours online.

Honestly, I wish I'd done it earlier, and I plan to continue for as long as I can.