7 Secrets to Survive 8am Classes In College (From a Former College Student)

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Are you considering taking an 8am class in college? It’s no secret that many college students dread 8am classes. Waking up, making it to class, and paying attention so early in the morning can be notoriously difficult, especially for night owls.

But there’s no need to stress!

You can easily survive your dreaded 8am classes, with these simple tips and tricks. In this post, I’ve compiled my 7 best secrets that helped me not only survive my early classes but also ace the class!

Keep reading for the 7 best secrets to survive 8am classes in college!

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If you’re on this post, I’m guessing you’re in one of three situations…

1. You’re currently working on your class schedule for next semester and a class you need is either offered only at 8am or there’s only seats open in the 8am class.
2. You got stuck in an 8am class and you’re trying to prepare yourself.
3. You just attended your first 8am class and you’re wondering “WTF! How do people do this!?”

If this is you, well I wish you good luck!

No, I’m kidding.

It’s not that bad and that’s coming from someone who went to great lengths to never have a class start before 10am.

As with everything in college, there are pros and cons to having early morning classes. Depending on your lifestyle, sleep patterns, and academic needs, your ideal start time for your college classes will vary from person to person.

Benefits of 8am Classes in College

Believe it or not, there are some pros to having early morning classes! If you’re wondering, “should I take an 8am class in college,” here are some benefits for you to consider:

Great for Morning People

If getting your day started at the crack of dawn is your thing, then an 8am class is a good idea for you!

Since your sleep schedule is already set up for getting up early, it’ll be super easy to make it to class on time and pay attention.

Most of the early risers I knew in college did their best thinking in the morning, so having classes earlier in the day definitely helped them get good grades.

More Free Time

Getting your classes out of the way in the morning opens up the rest of your day for other things like extracurricular activities, studying, or taking that lovely afternoon nap.

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If you schedule all your classes in the morning, you could be done with your school day by noon. That leaves you with the rest of the day to do what you want and you’ll feel more productive with your time.

Here’s a Gem: If you’re a student-athlete or student leader, you should definitely take advantage of those early classes! Since your day is filled with many meetings/practices, you’ll want the extra time in the afternoon and evening to take a break or study.

Preparation for the “Real World”

In the “real world” 8am start times are standard for most jobs.

I know…I hate it too!

Going from a full-time college student to a full-time employee working 8am-5pm is challenging. If you’re not used to an early start, it can be even harder!

I remember how much I struggled with my first full-time job and my start time was 9am!

Having 8am classes in college is the best preparation for your first job post-graduation because you’ll already be used to getting your day started earlier rather than later.

Cons of 8am Classes In College

On the flip side, taking 8am classes in college can be difficult if you’re not a morning person. Here are some challenges to consider:

Lack of Sleep

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One of the biggest struggles with having 8am classes is getting up in the morning.

It is expected that students are seated and ready to start class at 8am, so that means you have to wake up at least 30-45 mins earlier to make it to class on time. This can be even more difficult if you’re a commuter student or live off-campus and aren’t super close to your classroom building.

So if you’re a night owl with an 8am class, you’ll probably miss out on getting enough sleep trying to get to class in the morning unless you change your sleep schedule.

(trust me that lack of sleep will catch up with you if you don’t!)

Missing Out on Social Events

This is a huge one that a lot of college students don’t think about! If you have 8am classes, you’re probably gonna miss out on some of those late-night events and parties with your friends.

Why?

Because you gotta make sure you’re ready for class in the morning!

Unlike having later classes, you don’t have any time to procrastinate in the morning. That means your assignments need to be done and you get enough sleep to be alert in class the next day.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Parties In College

Poor Academic Performance

This one is so real, especially for students who do their best work at night!

If you’re not used to having class super early, you may not get the best grades in that class. You’ll probably be sleep deprived and it could be hard to focus and participate. This could also lead to you skipping classes and missing assignments.

If this is you, you should one of the following:

1. Schedule classes when you’re at your best

So if you’re most alert in the evening, go for afternoon classes or night classes. That way you’ll make it to class and can retain the information.

OR

2. Learn how to deal with 8am classes

If you can’t avoid an 8am class, use these secrets for how to survive your 8am classes!

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7 Secrets to Survive 8am Classes

1. Choose your class type wisely

Choosing which classes you have in the morning is extremely important.

If you’re a morning person, go for classes that you need to be fresh for like Math or Science. These are great since you do your best thinking in the morning.

If you hate the thought of thinking that early in the morning, go for classes that are easy and don’t require too much energy like a general education class or an elective.

(Like I would never choose something like debate class that early in the morning)

A lot of physical exercise classes (like swimming, tennis, etc.) are offered in the mornings, so if you want to be active for your first class, that’s a great option to pick for an 8am!

Related: 77 Insanely Funny Debate Topics for College Students

2. Create a schedule and stick to it

Having a set schedule is the ultimate way to have success with an 8am class! Create routines that you can easily follow throughout your week.

Think about things like:

• What time do I need to wake up in the morning?
• What time do I need to go to bed to get a good night’s sleep?
• What time do I need to leave my house/dorm/etc to make it to class on time?

Make sure that you give yourself ample time for waking up, getting dressed, saying affirmations, traffic, etc. Once you set your schedule, stick to it!

The more you follow your routine the easier and more natural it becomes.

Related: 50 Positive Affirmations for College Students That Will Change Your Life

3. Use an alarm strategy

Don’t rely on only one alarm! If you’re like me and tend to snooze your alarm clock multiple times, you need a strategy so you’ll actually get up in the morning.

Here’s the alarm strategy I used:

• Set three alarms (you can use what kind of alarm you want)
• The first alarm should be set for 20 mins before you want to wake up. (If you’re a deep sleeper, you might not even hear this one)
• The second alarm should be set for 10 mins before you want to wake up.
• The third alarm should be set for what time you HAVE to wake up.

By using this strategy, your body will be primed to get up on the third alarm and it can even feel like you slept in a bit by playing a trick on your mind.

If you need some other alarm strategies for waking up early, check out this article.

4. Prepare yourself the night before

Set yourself up for success the next morning by preparing yourself the night before! This helped me so much when it came to making it on time for my 8am classes.

Take some time to set out your clothes for the next day and pack your bookbag. In the morning, you won’t have to even think about what you’re gonna wear or if you brought everything you need for class.

To take it a step further, you can also take a shower a night, so you cut down even more time on your morning routine.

And that just means more time for you to sleep in!

5. Find something to look forward to

One thing that always helped me wake up early and in a good mood was having something to look forward to on the days I had an 8am class.

For example, on 8am days, I always treated myself to my favorite Starbucks coffee in the morning. I only got it on these days, so it felt like a prize for me actually making it to class.

If you’re competitive, making it a game with yourself, definitely helps you be able to get up and get moving!

6. Eat breakfast in the morning

There is nothing worse than being sleepy and hungry and stuck in class! If you want to survive your 8am classes you need to eat in the morning. And no coffee is not enough!

Eating breakfast gives you energy and helps you be more alert. Most dining halls are open before classes start, so you can easily go have breakfast and build that into your morning routine.

If you live off campus, definitely take some time to at least bring your breakfast with you if you don’t have enough time to sit and eat to make it on time to class.

If you’re not a breakfast person, still eat at least a little something to give you some energy. My favorite quick breakfast in college was a bagel/ toast, oatmeal, cereal, or an omelet if I had time.

7. Add a break after your 8am class

This is the juiciest secret I HAD to share with you and the ultimate way to survive your 8am classes!

Do not worry about trying to look your best with your 8am class.

For your 8am, put on you’re comfiest outfit. Something you can easily throw on and go. The goal is to sleep in as much as possible, while still looking presentable and making it on time for class.

On your break from class, that’s when you go back to your room and get ready for the day! Hair, makeup, outfit, whatever.

AHA HA amazing right!

With this strategy, you get more time to sleep in, less stressful mornings, and you still can get all your classes over with before the clock strikes 12!

Wrapping Up

8am classes in college can be really awesome or can totally suck depending on your lifestyle.

For a lot of students, these early morning classes are unavoidable but don’t worry, your life isn’t over!

Using the 7 secrets I shared above, even the latest of sleepers can not only survive their 8am classes but truly thrive!

Did this post help you survive your 8am class in college? Leave a comment down below and let me know!