Oh, the dreaded 8 am.
As someone who has been extremely unlucky in registering for classes, I have been stuck with 8 and 9 am classes every semester of college. This is the worst nightmare to some students, but with months of practice I’ve managed to get up at 6:30 am — yes you read that right — like it’s nothing. While I would personally describe myself as a morning person, there are still days where waking up before 10 am doesn’t feel natural.
If you’ve been cursed like me or just want to learn how to get an early start to your day, here’s how to conquer an early class schedule.
- DON’T scramble through your morning
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I know it’s tempting to stay in bed until 7:30 and sprint to class, but the adrenaline rush from possibly being late is not enough to wake you up (trust me). Take the time to have yourself ~a morning~ and prepare for the day. A little bit of brain activity will get you in the right mindset. I learned to appreciate a quiet morning throughout the school year, and getting to play music in the community bathroom with no fear of interruption is an added plus.
- Set Multiple Alarms
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This may already be apart of your routine, but I recommend going WILD with alarms. For those of you who are prone to hit snooze, I’d suggest 10-15 min intervals in between each. It will force you to stay awake so you can get up and start your day. If you still blow through the alarms, plan your outfit beforehand to save time and don’t worry about your hair/makeup (it is 8 am, after all).
- Get Active Early
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I’m not going to lie and say I work out every morning, but a morning jam session will suffice. Get your heart pumping before you sit down in class and you’ll feel more alert. I made this playlist the beginning of my freshman year and it works every time.
- Eat Breakfast
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While some of you may suffer from not having an appetite in the morning, putting fuel in your body is crucial to getting an early start. Whether you force yourself to eat a banana or are going for a full pancake breakfast, don’t let your stomach growling be the thing that keeps you awake.
You made it to class!!! Now to say awake:
- Don’t Be Afraid to Take Breaks
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(And no, I don’t mean nap breaks.) If you feel yourself dozing off, take a minute to step out of class and walk around the hallway or get water. Getting out of a stuffy classroom gives you a minute to breathe and break up the class period. Just make sure you go back to class.
- Occupy Yourself
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If your class is absolutely boring (think: my sophomore year “history of mass communications” course) feel free to distract yourself with another task. Doodle in your notebook, flip through your planner for the day or make a to-do list. Taking your mind off the subject for a couple of minutes can make the time fly by.
Note: this is not permission to online shop instead of taking notes, you WILL get caught (trust me).
- Participation Is Your Friend
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You’re here to learn after all! Class participation severely lacks in the morning, so being the one to raise your hand will drive the class forward through the lesson. It will also get you noticed by your professor, which will help your grade in the long run. Ask a question or answer a question, hearing your own voice will snap you out of your daydreams.
- Stick To A Routine
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Once you’ve figured out what works for you, keep it up throughout the semester! If you do better with coffee after class or find the perfect amount of time you need to get ready, don’t let it go. It can be tempting to skip class or make a dash across campus but building healthy habits is the best way to start off the semester.
8 am’s don’t have to be the worst part of your college schedule. Having early classes means you get things out of the way and spend the rest of the day working- or taking a well-deserved nap.
Good luck with your early mornings and in the words of Kylie Jenner: rise and shine!
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