Right, here’s a list of everything you need to survive a 9am lecture at Lancaster Uni

It is Halloween season and the only thing spookier than a horror film is having a 9am lecture you’re 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 Lancaster student with ace attendance. We could say something like, “make sure you get enough sleep beforehand” – but where’s the fun in that?

Don’t worry, this all-encompassing guide has you covered, and will make sure you aren’t just attending your 9am – you’re actually paying attention too.

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 me, you’re going to want to be bundled up like an Arctic explorer.

Make sure you start getting a collection for the cold months; you’ll thank yourself later when you’re nice and toasty whilst waiting at the bus stop. That being said, once you actually board the crowded bus, you may want to start shedding some layers before you go from one temperature extreme to another.

Hot drink from Coastal Co.

If you’ve been lucky enough to fight your way onto a crowded bus, you may find yourself with an odd 20 to 30 minutes to kill before your scheduled session. So, why not get a hot drink from one of the campus businesses?

We recommend going to Coastal Co. as it usually doesn’t have much of a queue at 8am, making it easy to pick up a warm beverage for your enjoyment.

Leave early

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As we’ve already said, the buses are super crowded around 8am, so make sure you leave early and are actually able to board, or better yet, get a seat.

The further south of the city you live, the earlier you’ll want to leave, as post-infirmary the buses start to pass people, as I’m sure we’re all painfully aware. And, for the sake of this article, I’m 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. With the extra 20 minutes you get on campus after catching the early bus, you might want to look into spending that time in the library, bleary-eyed and utterly 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’s time to go.

Breakfast on campus

Sometimes we hit snooze one too many times on our alarms and rush out the door, only to make it to our lectures…maybe a little late. These days are rough, particularly if you’ve been out the night before. Then when you’re in the lecture your stomach starts growling, catching the attention of those sitting around you. Just writing about it is making me shudder.

However, you made it to the 9am that so many in your class skipped, so why not reward yourself with a savoury (or sweet) treat for breakfast afterwards?

My personal favourite is the bacon roll from Greggs with ketchup – a timeless classic.

Redbull/energy drink

This one is a personal favourite of mine, and a bit of a guilty pleasure. Usually the scheduling gods like to make sure your 9am days also include a 12pm and late afternoon lecture too. 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 to be here – so 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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