We’ve all been there: You frantically type your winter term CRNs and press enter, but it’s too late. Your perfectly planned schedule is impossible and that one class you have to take for your major is full. Your only option is any college student’s worst nightmare: 8 a.m. class.

The future is clear. Each day will begin with yesterday’s sweatshirt, messy hair and a faint sense of panic. You will trudge across campus, usually in the rain, with a cup of sub-par coffee in one hand and your phone in the other. Week one will feel like week eight, and week eight will feel like a miserable mess … If you even get that far. In short, you’re not a morning person. Who is, anyway?

There is hope, however. Though it may not be possible to switch to an 11 a.m. lecture or put yourself on a caffeine IV, a few simple changes to your morning routine might help make that groggy walk to class a little bit easier. After all, there’s truth to the oft-repeated cliché: Fake it ‘till you make it. Pretend you’re a morning person with the help of this list, and you just might survive winter term:

1. Plan ahead

At 1 a.m. the night before class, when you’re dying to put off writing that essay, lay out your outfit for the next day and pack your bag with everything you’ll need. It saves time in the morning and wearing something other than sweats or pajamas can help you feel more awake and focused.

2. Make a routine

Are you a coffee drinker? Start each day with a Thermos to go. The caffeine helps, but the routine is even more important to get your brain going. If lattes aren’t your thing, eat a light breakfast before class, or check Instagram on the same bench on campus each morning.

3. Then switch it up

Once you’ve got your routine set, mix it up! Try a new coffee shop every Friday, or treat yourself to a donut on a Tuesday “just because.” Walk to class a new way, or switch up your bus ride playlist. The excitement, however small, will make your morning a little bit more bearable.

4. Share your pain

When all else fails, misery is better shared. Find a friend to walk to class with, or force your roommate to register for an 8 a.m. as well. Call your mom, or just smile at everyone you pass. A little bit of forced socialization might be just what you need.