It is Halloween season and the only thing spookier than a horror film is having a 9am lecture you are actually forcing yourself to attend.
It’s cold, it’s raining, and we are all definitely trying to lock in for the new academic year – but 9ams make it so difficult to be that perfect student with ace attendance. We could say something like, “make sure you get enough sleep before-hand” – but where is the fun in that?
Don’t worry, this all encompassing guide will make it so you don’t only just attend your 9am, you actually pay attention.
Scarf, hat, and gloves
Unfortunately, we do not go to uni in a warm climate, and it is not too long until the fallen leaves begin to frost over. Trust us, you’re going to want to be bundled up like an Artic explorer.
Make sure you start getting a collection for the cold months, you will thank yourself later when you’re nice and toasty whilst waiting at the bus stop. However, when you get on that crowded bus, you may want to start shedding before it gets a bit too cozy.
Hot drink from Costal Co.
If you manage to get on one of the overcrowded buses, you may find yourself with an odd 20-30 minutes to kill before your scheduled session. Why not get a hot drink from one of the campus businesses?
We recommend going to Costal Co. as it usually doesn’t have that much of a line at 8am, making it easy to pick up a warm beverage for your enjoyment.
Leave early
As we’ve already said, the buses are super crowded around 8am, so make sure you leave early to make sure you’re able to get on the bus, or better yet, get a seat on it.
The more south of the city you live, you may want to leave earlier as post-infirmary the buses start to pass people, as I am sure we are all painfully aware. I am going to pretend the embarrassing instance of sticking my arm out for a bus – only to be ignored has not happened to me…multiple times.
Pre-decompression in the library
This is a must for me. Usually with the 20 minutes the early bus gets you to campus, you may be spending the spare time in the library, bleary-eyed and absolutely confused as to how your module choices got you the complete inconvenience of a 9am.
You might think you should spend the time productively going through readings or lecture slides, but I find myself more focused in the early morning lecture if I just let myself dissociate on TikTok until it is time to go.
Breakfast on campus
Sometimes we hit snooze one too many times on our alarms and rushed out the door, only to make it to our lectures…maybe a little late. These days are rough, particularly if you have been out the night before. Then when you’re in the lecture your stomach starts growling, pretty loud and caches the attention of those sat around you in the lecture. Just writing about it is making me shudder.
However, you made it to the 9am that so many in your class skipped, why not reward yourself with a savoury (or sweet) treat for breakfast afterwards?
My personal favourite is the bacon roll from Greggs with ketchup, timeless and classic.
Redbull/energy drink
This one is a personal favourite of mine, and a bit of a guilty pleasure. Usually the scheduling gods make it so on days when you have a 9am, you may have something scheduled at midday and then late afternoon as well. Beat the midday sleepiness in the library by picking yourself up a caffeinated drink of your choice.
My personal favourite is a sugar-free Redbull, which they sell at Spar for £2.45. If caffeine is not for you, you have my ultimate respect.
Remember to check-in
It sounds self-explanatory, but remember to actually check-in on the iLancaster app. You’ve probably trekked through wind, rain, the cold, and the spine – just make sure you don’t forget to log your achievement into your online schedule.
Trust me, I have gone to one too many 9ams completely sleep-deprived and/or hungover and forgotten to check-in. What is the point in attending your session if it isn’t going to improve your attendance? Education? Surely not.
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