I bet there are a few things that college students resent more than an 8:30 am class. When you’re accustomed to waking up at 10 or 11 am on most days, getting yourself on campus for 8:30 seems like a nearly impossible task.
Read on for 7 morning hacks that will help you actually wake up, get out the door and survive that 8:30 class without the need to take any cat naps in between.
1. Plan strategically the night before.
Good girls plan – but collegiettes know how to build a strategy. When you have school, friends, and extracurriculars, it’s not realistic to try and plan your entire day 24 hours in advance.
Instead, first identify which activities take the most time out of your day, and then focus on preparing for those activities specifically. Are you a girl who changes your outfit 4 times in a morning? Plan your outfit out the night before. Or, do you spend time printing out slides last minute? Then prepare your school stuff before you go to bed – don’t sweat the outfit that much. Mornings will be so much better.
2. Set your latest-possible alarm.
You might be used to setting an ambitious alarm, followed by alarms at 5 minute intervals until the latest possible time you could ever wake up to get to class. It might sound crazy, but set your alarm to that latest possible time. This way, as soon as you see that it’s 8 am (my latest possible time), you have no time to snooze and negotiate. Your body’s only option is to get up and get moving!
3. Coordinate with your BFF.
Waking up and getting ready is ten times better when you have company. Whether it’s your housemate, neighbour or friend from the same class, make plans with your girlfriend to get to class together.
TIP: How do you know which friend to ask? Just a suggestion – she isn’t the one who skips half your classes and then arrives late to the ones she does attend. She’s the one who’s always on time, lookin’ fab and ready to go at 8:28. Send her a message and she’ll get you out the door.
4. Make gym plans for right after class
Committing to a 10 am workout session will motivate you to start your day early – including getting to your 8:30. Most importantly, making gym plans gives you permission to rock athletic casual. No need to worry about finding a cute outfit to wear at 7:30 am. Yoga pants, a tank top and sweater will suffice, and you’ll get to proudly say to your friends that you’re headed to the gym after. Their reaction? Now she has her life together.
5. Make a cup of your favourite hot drink for during class.
Ever have that moment in class when you’re just so bored and wish you had something to do other than listen to the professor on the given topic? With a cup of coffee or tea to sip on, at least you have something to do to get you through the class (bite-sized snacks could also do the trick).
6. Eat a breakfast high in protein.
Unfortunately, most breakfasts that are easy to buy, prepare, or eat are also easy for your body to break down into sugars that may cause you to crash and burn. Don’t fall for simple, empty carbs like muffins, croissants, and sugary cereals. Eat something high in protein and fibre to keep you full.
7. Take the outdoor route.
Spending more time outdoors, on a sunny day in particular, is scientifically proven to help you wake up. Exposure to natural sunlight reminds your body that it is now daytime, and signals to your brain to stop producing melatonin, the hormone that regulates your body’s internal clock and sleep cycle (Loria, 2014). So, when you’re headed for your 8:30s, choose the route that’s more outdoors (i.e. don’t cut through the library or other buildings). Bonus points if you can actually make your walk longer so that you have more time to get some Vitamin D.
Works Cited
Loria, K. (2014). 6 Surprising Reasons That Sunshine Is Healthy. Retrieved October 12, 2016, from http://www.businessinsider.com/health-effects-of-the-sun-and-vitamin-d-2014-