Being late is easy!
Why is waking up for a 9am lecture much harder than waking up for a 5am flight?
It’s tough waking up for an early class (especially if your lecturer isn’t the most interesting person in the world).
And then there’s always the model student who is always early for the 9am lecture. They’re usually smiling and chatting, which makes you feel bad for waking up 15 minutes before class.
But don’t worry. We’ve got five tips to help you to get your ass out of bed and into that classroom. And you’ll feel good about it.
Develop good habits
There are a few habits that you can build into your routine to help you get to those early classes. Get into a routine of going to bed early and waking up early on those days you need to be up.
Easier said than done, right? Well, sometimes you just need to be hard on yourself.
Next time you think about starting a movie at 1am, just turn off your computer and sleep. You could even try setting your phone alarm, and then leaving your phone across the room from your bed.
Prepare to succeed
Pack your bag and prepare your food the night before, so you just have to wake up, shower and get dressed. One of my favourite breakfast meals is overnight oats – these are really easy to prepare and taste great.
If you haven’t tried overnight oats, I thoroughly recommend them. My favourite recipe is a mixture of oats, banana, honey, peanut butter, milk and some berries.
Set more than one alarm
If you really struggle to get up in the morning, set alarms that are staggered. For example, the first one could be at 6:20, followed by 6:27, and then 6:34. These odd times can stop you from sleeping for “another 10 minutes”.
I basically used this trick on myself until I just started waking up at 6am.
Have a strict morning routine
This one links to the first tip. If you develop a morning routine that works for you, you can fly through the morning on auto-pilot. Boldanddetermined.com reported on one example of a successful routine, which can really help to kick-start your day.
A good habit to include in your morning routine is to drink a full glass of water. While your brain might still be waking up, your other organs should start functioning.
Value your education and you’ll never be late
This one is a little more difficult as it requires an attitude change. Nonetheless, it is probably the most powerful habit you can introduce. Once you value your education, you will have no problem being on time to class.
A goal or aim for the future after university can be all it takes to provide you with motivation.
Final Words
Give some of these a try the next time you have an early class. If they work, share them with someone who’s always late.