How To Master the 8 am College Class

College is the ultimate test in delusion. We all know those people (or maybe you’re one of them) who schedule tons of 8 am classes while making their schedule, and most of the time, they never make it to lecture. Early morning classes are not for the faint of heart. At that hour, anything your professor says can start to sound like complete gibberish.

Now, if you have an 8 am scheduled for your next semester, it is not a hopeless situation by any means. All you need to do is trick your mind into thinking that you actually like it. So if you’ve ever dragged yourself to class wondering why you’re paying thousands of dollars just to torture yourself and be half asleep in a lecture hall, this one’s for you. 

1. Make your morning fun and relaxing

You might think that sleeping in till the last minute and then rushing to get ready is the only way to go about an early class, but this routine is not serving you. The key is to wake up at a decent time so that you can make your morning a vibe. Play some music that’ll pump you up, light a candle, make your bed, and maybe even pick out a cute outfit. This is not about productivity, it’s about feeling good about yourself and setting up a positive mood for the rest of your day. 

2. Coffee!! Coffee!! Coffee!!

We all know that getting coffee every day may not be the best decision for your wallet, but when you have to get up this early, I figure you can make an exception. Whether it’s an iced coffee or a matcha, caffeine is your friend when it comes to surviving these classes. So make sure you’re up in time so you can get your coffee before class! 

3. Romanticize the Lecture…Kind Of..

When you get to class, the goal is not just to doze off and walk out when the lecture is over.  Take notes! If you take notes on paper, make it cute! Pull out your cute pens and color-coded notes. If you’re an iPad person, use a cute note-taking app (I love GoodNotes). Remember, you’re trying to trick your brain: you actually like this. This way, you’re actually making your early wake-up worth it by being predictive in lecture. 

4. Reward Yourself After!

You got up, made it to class, and maybe even paid attention to your professor. You totally deserve an after-lecture reward! Take a power nap, grab a bagel, or take a short doom-scrolling break (sometimes you need it). 

5. Let Go of the Pressure to Be a Morning Person

Some people have the ability to be up before the sun and be so cheery, it confuses you. It is okay if you are not that person. A little self-trickery, caffeine, and romanticizing can help you make the most of your early mornings, or at the very least, make them bearable. 

Because if college has taught us anything, it’s how to romanticize chaos. Or, tolerate it…same thing. 

You definitely do not have to be a morning person to make it through an 8 am. All you need is a little patience, a lot of coffee, and the reminder that you are doing the best you can. And, sometimes that is more than enough. 

• 8am
• college
• lecture