8 am classes can be the bane of a uni student’s existence, especially in the darker months. As much as we may dread them, sometimes they’re a necessary evil, so we’re sharing some tips to not skip them. Sleepy as we may be, let’s get at it.
Get your sleep schedule right
Now hear me out. I know you’ve heard it a thousand times, but getting yourself onto a sleep schedule will help you wake up easier. Experts say to aim for 7-9 hours of sleep every night, and to preferably have consistent bedtimes and wake-up times.
As a student, I know firsthand how hard it can be to make a consistent sleep schedule, but making gradual changes, like setting my alarm fifteen minutes earlier or setting up a nighttime alarm can help with this. Just like any habit, you’ll have to ease your way into it, so make little changes, and most importantly, don’t be too hard on yourself if you miss your bedtime a couple times in a busy week. All we can do is move on and try again tomorrow.
Enjoy sunlight where possible
Our bodies are wired to operate in the daylight hours and rest in the nighttime hours, so take advantage of that however you can. In the sunnier months, opening your curtains before bed can help you wake up earlier. Your body responds to the sunlight, so when it comes in through your window, it can feel easier to wake up. If this works for you, you could consider investing in an alarm clock that simulates the sunrise, so you can wake up easier even on overcast days or in the winter months.
Don’t snooze…just don’t do it
If you let yourself snooze, you will snooze your way through your first class (and by you, I mean me). Let me ask you this: do you ever actually feel better rested after waking up from a snoozed alarm? I don’t. I feel crankier about those eleven minutes not being longer. Not a great start to the day.
Instead, do whatever you need to do to start your day off right
Once you’re out of bed, do something nice for yourself, for me, that means listening to a playlist full of 2010s pop music and Dolly Parton, and making myself a warm (and very caffeinated) drink. Find little things to add to your morning routine that you enjoy, and before you know it, you’ll actually look forward to getting up and experiencing those moments.
Some people also suggest energizing yourself with a little bit of exercise. As someone who can’t fathom getting up at 6 am for an hour-long workout before class, I usually choose short stretching or mobility sessions. If you’re looking for something short to get your blood pumping in the morning, Rec’s Move-U Movement breaks are nice and quick and they’re great mood boosters.
Did we miss your favourite early-rising tip? Let us know your best way to survive 8 am classes in the comments…and pray for those of us who have 8 am classes on Mondays. RIP me.
About the author
Sarah Kloos is a transfer student from Okanagan College. She’s a Creative Writing major, a collector of cool rocks, and a lover of novels. While she’s still not 100% sure what she’s going to be when she grows up, she’s okay with that. For now, she’s learning everything she can from her co-op work term, and loving every minute of it.
