There’s no denying that morning classes are rough, and the days of me sleeping in as much as I can during them are long gone now that I’m living off campus. While living off-campus does have many perks, it also means that I’m now subjected to 45-minute traffic jams to get to campus on time, rather than the 5-minute stroll that I used to enjoy with my friends.
Getting used to this change has definitely been an adjustment (okay…maybe a little bit more than adjustment), and I’ve had to change a lot of things about my morning routine to make it suitable for commuter life. Over time, however, I’ve surprised myself by finding ways that not only make my early morning commuter life easier to survive (and give me extra time to sleep), but enjoyable as well! Here are those tips:
1. Go To Bed Early
Going to bed early is an absolute must for me in order to survive my morning commute, and it’s important for you, too. A good night’s rest not only helps you have more focus in class (rather than thinking about when your next nap will be), but it also helps you to not be a drowsy driver. Even without the commute, getting up early is hard enough without adding a lack of sleep to the mix.
I learned my lesson the hard way on this one. The one time I didn’t go to bed early was the same day that I had 9 hours of classes, which meant that not only was I tired and miserable throughout the day, but that I also ended up with a terrible headache. Since then, I make sure that I always get a good night’s sleep before my early morning commute!
2. Have Your Backpack Ready
For some reason, it always seems to take me less time to get my backpack ready the night before class than the day of class, which means more sleep for me! Having my backpack ready also means that I can just grab it and go the next morning, rather than running around the house and freaking out because I can’t find one of my interior design tools or my Sociology notebook.
This tip also applies to your lunch, your purse, or anything else you need to take with you the next morning! Having everything together by the door is an extra bonus.
3. Leave Early
As tempting as those extra few minutes of sleep are, you should always plan to leave early to make it to class on time. You never know when there might be bad traffic or weather that is going to make your commute longer than normal. I know I’ve definitely had instances where leaving early saved me from being late to class. Plus, by arriving early, you may get a better parking spot or some extra time to read, do homework, or study before class!
4. Make the Car Ride Enjoyable
When I made the switch from living on-campus to living off-campus, I dreaded how much time I would be spending in my car rather than finishing my homework, reading, or (of course) blogging.
However, my dread of the commute has practically disappeared since I’ve realized that it gives me the perfect opportunity to listen to audiobooks, something I never did before I becoming a commuter! Needless to say, this has actually caused my commute to be something that I look forward to!
If you don’t like the idea of audiobooks, try podcasts, music playlists, or even the radio! Find something that will make your commute enjoyable for you, and it will greatly change your outlook on your daily routine!
5. Plan Your Outfit Early
Another time-saver is to plan your outfit out early, whether you’re doing it the week before or the night before. This way, you’re not frantically scrambling around the house the next morning to find a pair of socks or jeans the next morning. (Plus it gives you extra time to sleep!)
Getting used to early morning commuter life has definitely been an adjustment for me, and although it’s still not a piece of cake, these tips have definitely made my morning routine a lot easier!
Let me know: what are your tips for surviving early morning commuter life?
Forever,
