Being motivated and prepared for an early morning class can be an extremely difficult task for most college students. Even if you manage to wake up on time it can still be hard to focus and pay attention in class.

Here are a few tips I’ve found successful for those early morning classes:

1.) Attend

The most important step in ensuring that you succeed in early morning classes is simply attending. Resist the urge to hit that snooze button! Not hitting snooze is always the hardest part for me. Getting an adequate amount of sleep can be a game changer. Being on time is important as well. It is extremely difficult to learn when you are not present!

2.) Be Alert

The first half of the battle is simply showing up, but it is pointless if you show up and you don’t pay attention! It can be hard to focus when you would much rather be sleeping, but there are a few things you can do to help with that. Coffee is an excellent way to start your morning and give you that extra boost that you need to pay attention in that early class. Eating breakfast before your class will also help you greatly. It is hard to focus when your stomach is growling. My daily morning routine consist of a quick shower to wake me up and coffee … lots of coffee! Another thing that I do that helps me focus in class is to wear nice clothes. I would not be able to focus in class if I were in my pajamas fighting to stay awake.

3.) Be Prepared

Lastly, being prepared is helpful in any class, but especially in a morning class. Bringing the proper supplies, taking notes, reading over class material, and completing homework are simple ways you can be prepared for your class. I’m always sure to bring paper, a writing utensil, and the textbook I am using for that class.

I’ve not perfected these steps by any means, but if you follow these steps it will greatly improve your chances in surviving and thriving in those early morning classes. Good luck, Muleriders!