There’s something deeply offensive about being expected to be 100% ready to conquer the day at 8 a.m.
My face is still filled with marks from sleeping on my hand the night before. Breakfast is too complicated to even fathom making. To make matters even worse, somewhere out there on campus, a girl is jogging for the fun of it, which, if you ask me, is a personal attack. Yet, here I am expected to walk into a classroom and be the smartest version of myself.
Trust me, I know an 8 a.m. class doesn’t sound like the setting to make a perfect entrance. It’s filled with bright lights, someone eating a granola bar, and a professor who somehow always opens a different PowerPoint with the same ear-to-ear smile on their face. But bringing a little personality into the situation can make it all that more bearable.
You’re already out of bed; that was the hardest part. Now let’s give the girl who somehow did that a little something to work with.
- Don’t Overthink Your Outfit
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At 7:15 a.m., every single outfit in your closet seems to be wrong. Your jeans fit you uncomfortably. The top you spent a heinous amount on is suddenly hideous. After trying on four different outfits, you somehow end up sticking to the original outfit and leaving your room looking like the FBI searched it.
This is why it’s so important to pick an outfit beforehand. I know, it can be annoying. The night before was probably packed with craziness, and you had no time or willpower to even think about the next day, but trust me. It’ll make all the difference.
Plus, it doesn’t have to be super elaborate. A matching set, a cute top and jeans, or a sweatshirt and leggings are more than enough!
- Find Your Last-Minute Finishing Touch
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Some girls have the superpower of doing a full face of makeup before the sun has even risen. If that’s you, I more than applaud you, and more importantly, would love to know at what time you go to sleep to make that happen. Unfortunately, that could never be me.
So, for everyone else who, like me, hasn’t been gifted with this talent, choose one or two things that make you feel a little more awake. Slick back your hair. Put on your favorite earrings. Add lip gloss, maybe even a little blush.
There’s also something wonderful about having a signature detail. Maybe it’s a sparkly claw clip, a cute charm on your backpack, or it’s just your AirPods Max, but we’ll get more into that later. An early class can have cute statement pieces. It cannot have one hour of sleep.
- Find a Good Morning Walk Playlist
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The walk to class deserves a better sound than your inside voice reviewing everything that you need to do for the day.
Make yourself a morning playlist. The minute I did this, it changed everything. A soundtrack filled with uplifting, fun songs can shift the mindset from “Ugh, I cannot believe I am awake right now” to “Yay, I’m at my own personalized music festival.”
Fill the playlist with songs that make you stand a little straighter, smile a little harder, and all together just bring all the vibes to your morning stroll. If Bad Bunny can get you across campus with a little more enthusiasm, it’s time for him to clock in for his morning shift.
Put the playlist on, put down that phone, and go. There’s a whole campus out there beyond the essay you’re rereading for the fourth time.
- Make Your Entrance On Time
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Being fashionably late can often be romanticized, but let me assure you, your awesome, fashionably late entrance isn’t giving Serena Vanderwoodsen. Instead, it’s giving you’re going to get an “F” for attendance. Walking in while your professor explains the assignment isn’t cool; it’s just stressful.
Give yourself a few extra minutes. That way you can settle into your seat, take out your laptop, and take a sip of your water without sweating buckets trying to figure out what you missed. It also gives you a chance to make a new friend. Walk inside, relax a little, and shoot a “Did you understand the reading from last night?” to the person behind you. Friendships have started from less.
- Reward Yourself
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The reward system has probably been a thing since before your parents learned to walk. Make your 8 a.m. feel more manageable by rewarding yourself afterward.
For me, having lunch with my friends once my classes finish does the job, but there are so many other options. Save a podcast for the walk back. Go get yourself that delicious matcha you’ve been thinking about all week. Maybe even going home and doomscrolling for 30 minutes will do the trick. Give yourself some time away from the craziness of the day before your obligations start begging for attention.
On the inevitable mornings when you oversleep or snooze your alarm, don’t freak out. Go to class. The world won’t end because you didn’t have time to put on mascara. While some mornings include that grand entrance with the cute outfits and an amazing playlist, others just have you running out of the door with a laptop in your hand.
Either way: breathe, take a seat, and remember that every entrance is a great entrance because you’re making it.
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