Here’s a fun fact: the drive from St. Louis to Washington D.C. is 12 hours and 45 minutes, not counting the necessary rest stops. That’s a lot of time to be on a bus if you’re going on the Generation Life pilgrimage this year.

What are you going to do with all that time? You can only stare out the window for so long before you start to lose your mind. Luckily, there are plenty of things to do as you wait to arrive in D.C., and you certainly don’t have to wait until you get there to start your pilgrimage. Here’s how to survive your 13+ hour ride!

1. Pray.

Your bus may pray a rosary together. If they don’t, pray one by yourself or with a friend! Prayer gets you in the mentality of the pilgrimage, and you can start saving lives spiritually even before the March! Also be sure to bring some prayer intentions from home to pray for during the trip.

2. Sleep.

Let’s face it, this trip is going to be exhausting. Charge up now as best you can—you’ll need the physical, mental, and emotional energy for the March. If you don’t do well sleeping on buses, try finding a bus buddy who doesn’t mind you sleeping on their shoulder. Also be sure to bring a blanket, pillow, or comfy jacket to sleep with! Dramamine may also help to ease the discomfort of a prolonged bus trip.

3. Make plans.

Be sure you know where your group is going, and when. GenLife is a HUGE group, one which will be joining an even more massive band when the March starts—it’s easy to get lost or overwhelmed. Knowing the plan ahead of time will make your trip less stressful, and it will be easier to focus on your mission for life.

4. Journal.

Bring a notebook or journal with you, and take some time to reflect on your expectations for the pilgrimage, and write down your impressions so far. Are you excited for the March? Nervous? Also take some time to reflect on the March on the bus ride back—how did it match up to your expectations? Anything surprise you?

5. Talk to the people who are on the bus with you—friends and strangers alike.

Talk about why you’re going on the March. Find out why they’re going and what being pro-life means to them. This is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow pro-lifers, but it’s also a great way to reflect on why you’re going.

6. Sing!

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a bus without music is a boring bus. And true, you’re not going to want to be belting out T Swift at 3 am when the rest of your bus is sleeping. But, during the daylight hours, bonding over some Praise and Worship music is a great way to praise God while simultaneously fighting off bus-boredom.

7. Watch some movies.

Chances are good that they’ll play a pro-life movie for you while on the bus—definitely watch it! Pro-life movies can be a beautiful way of artistically presenting the joy of life to the world. If you get to vote on the movie, here are some personal recommendations: Life is Beautiful, Bella, and Sophie Scholl—the Final Days.

8. Read!

Find some good books on the pro-life movement and on the importance of life as a whole. If you’re a Pope-nerd like me, read up on some things that some of the Popes have said about the Pro-life movement, especially St. John Paul II’s Evangelium Vitae. If that’s not quite your style, check out Abby Johnson’s Unplanned, or Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza.

9. Tweet about it.

This trip is all about changing the nation, changing lives, changing the world—so let the world know what you’re doing! Tell the world that Generation Life is alive, strong, and proud to stand for life. But also remember that this is a pilgrimage, not a vacation. Don’t feel like you have to #hashbrag every little detail of the trip. Not to mention, your phone battery will probably get zapped by the cold pretty fast, so be sure what you share is important: share why you’re going on the March! Be sure to follow @GenLifeStl and @ProLifeStl, and like Generation Life on Facebook!

10. Thank God for this amazing opportunity.

This is a really great trip, through and through, and we can only be grateful that we have the freedom and the ability to prayerfully stand as witnesses to life.

Happy Marching!