Getting up at 7 in the morning to go to class sounds like a living hell, let’s be real. If you’re looking at the semester ahead and you see a schedule full of 8 a.m.s, never fear. Here’s how I survived my first semester with four 8 a.m.s a week and how they can help you too.

Pack your books ahead of time.

The amount of time I spent shoving my books into my backpack grabbing my keys and running out the door was wasteful. Pack your bag the night before with everything you need to run a smooth morning. This keeps your stress levels low when you know you have a tough day ahead.

Take the bus to class.

If you’re all the way at Eigenmann and you need to be at Rawles in 10 minutes the best way to do this is to take the bus. It shaves at least 5 minutes off your walk and gives you a few extra minutes to get ready in the morning. You can walk the rest of your schedule and still get plenty of steps in!

Drink water and a healthy breakfast.

Grab a granola bar on the way out (or pack it the night before ;) and if that is not an option, most buildings have some kind of food nearby you could always stop to grab. Eating breakfast sets you up for not only a good 8 a.m., but a productive rest of your day.

Go to bed before midnight.

Of course, this isn’t always possible, but on that Tuesday night when you don’t have plans and finish studying early, hop into bed and SLEEP! If you are like me and have serious “FOMO” (fear of missing out), then just remind yourself that it is a Tuesday and nothing exciting happens on a Tuesday. It feels good and it is great for you. Take advantage of it!

Skip class only when necessary.

Read the syllabus before you start skipping class. Usually you get one or two “get out of jail free” cards, but after that, you’re on your own. And it happens to the best of us. We oversleep. Don’t let yourself use all your freebies in the first month; You’ll kick yourself later, trust me, I’m speaking from experience.

Overall, 8 a.m.s aren’t all bad. They give you a really great chance to get up and get shit done! Often times, I found myself feeling grateful for early classes as they give you a chance to make yourself get out of bed. Another great thing about them is that they open up your schedule to doing things in the afternoon and evening, avoiding later class times. If you’re feeling hopeless and down on yourself for not having other scheduling options, know that we all end up with one or two 8 a.m.s at some point and you’re not alone. Now go show that class who’s boss!