Even though waking up before the sun was even up might have seemed normal in high school, in college everyone dreads having to take an 8 am class. However sometimes it just can’t be helped and it is the only time a class is offered or the only time that works with your schedule. So here are 5 ways to make 8 am classes less painful.

1. Pack your bag the night before.

Especially when you have to wake up so early to get to class on time every minute of extra sleep that you can get is precious. So get in a couple more minutes in bed by simply planning ahead and packing your bag the night before so that you can just grab it and run out of the door when you are ready to leave.

2. Play fun music.

It is important to be awake especially if you are going to be driving to school. Something that can help with this and can just help you feel more energized and ready to take on your day is listening to loud or fun music (anything that makes you want to dance will work really) while getting ready or in the car on the way to school.

3. Make sure to eat breakfast.

People say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day for a reason. Eating breakfast can be a great way to start of your day whether it includes some form of caffeine or not and a really delicious breakfast can give you something to look forward to when you are having a hard time waking up early. Plus, the last thing you want to have to deal with during an early morning class is being hungry on top of tired. If you don’t want to wake up earlier in order to make your breakfast you can simply pack it the night before. There are plenty of recipes that can be made in a couple of minutes the night before and just stored in the fridge until you are ready to eat them.

4. Take a class you genuinely like.

Sadly, sometimes in order to fill a requirement we have to take classes that we might not be thrilled about, but don’t make your 8 am one of these classes. It will be much easier to stay awake and to be engaged if you genuinely care about the course material and it is something that you are interested in.

5. Get into a schedule.

This might be obvious but getting into a schedule can make waking up early so much easier. Even if you aren’t getting as much sleep as you should be, getting your body into the rhythm of waking up early can make the process less painful when you have class.