10 Tips If You Have Trouble Waking Up For Class

Morning classes are brutal (we all hate getting stuck with an 8 a.m.), and it can be hard to get out of bed to make it on time. It’s easy to snooze the alarm until the last second or just skip class altogether, but you don’t want to disappoint yourself when you miss important material. So get in the best position to succeed throughout each day, and follow these 10 tips if you have trouble waking up for class!

1) Use a consistent wind-down routine before bed.

Most of us are up until the last minute finishing an assignment or catching the latest episode of Game of Thrones, but the brain power and visual stimulation right before bed doesn’t give you a chance to relax. Implement a wind-down routine before bed, when you shut off your devices, close the books, and care for yourself. Whether you meditate or just perform your nightly skincare routine, giving your brain time to power down will make your sleep cycle better, and it will be easier to get up the next morning!

2) Drink coffee later in the morning.

As this video from AsapSCIENCE shows, drinking your coffee first thing in the morning disrupts “wake up” chemicals from being produced correctly in your brain—not to mention you build up a tolerance to the caffeine! Wait until you’re getting to class or at your favorite cafe before you start downing this tempting stuff if you have trouble waking up.

3) Don’t snooze your alarm.

The snooze button is the greatest of all evils when you’re trying to get up for class. Just five more minutes… over and over until you’re running late. Snoozing doesn’t help anything; time spent in bed after snoozing an alarm doesn’t give you any more energy, and it makes the idea of leaving your comfy sheets harder with every minute. Set your alarm a little bit later, and eliminate the ability to snooze yourself out of going to class.

4) Put your alarm out of reach.

Whether you use your phone or a clock, having your alarm in arm’s reach from your bed is a bad idea. Put your alarm device somewhere that requires you to get out of bed to shut off. That way, you can’t go back to sleep before you even open your eyes. Getting up is the hardest part of the morning, but the annoying sound across the room will make sure you’re out of bed when you need to be.

5) Drink a glass of cold water.

I know, this may sound like the least comforting thing to do in the early morning before class, but that’s the point. Drinking a cool glass of water will wake your body up a bit before you start to get ready. Plus, it’s a good start to your eight glasses per day!

6) Let the light in.

Blackout curtains are a blessing of fabric. But waking up to a dark room, and proceeding to get ready in one, is part of why you’re having trouble waking up. Open the curtains or turn on the light; it’s a shock to the eyes for a minute, but the light tells your brain that it’s time to start the day.

7) Turn some music on.

It doesn’t have to be anything loud or too upbeat; even some acoustic guitar provides some stimulation for your senses when you’re trying to get up. A quiet room in the morning makes it easier to fall back asleep. With some music on, you’ll be more motivated to get dressed.

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8) Eat breakfast.

This can be hard if you don’t give yourself enough time, but even a granola bar can give you enough energy to get going in the morning. Don’t skip breakfast, because your stomach will make you pay for it later! (Middle-of-class rumbles don’t really scream “prepared”). Plus, it’s harder to pay attention when you’re not nourished.

9)Exercise regularly.

In case you needed another reason why exercise is good for you, it can help a lot if you have trouble waking up in the morning! Exercising regularly not only decreases your stress, but it tells your body that it needs to get regular sleep. Figure out what time of day is best for your workout, and try your best to stick to it!

10) Set a consistent sleep schedule.

This is the most difficult step for most college students. Whether you’re up late studying for an exam or got back in the middle of the night from a party, an inconsistent sleep schedule messes with your ability to wake up in the morning. Setting a consistent time to go to bed and wake up (with few exceptions) creates a routine for your mind and body, and makes it easier to wake up.