Many students struggle with staying awake in class, resulting in loss of concentration and the potential of lower grades. Students tend to fall asleep in class due to a lack of sleep from staying up late (usually finishing homework) or not tuning into what the teacher is saying. Here are some tips to staying up in class after losing sleep.
- Chew gum: Chewing gum takes your mind off of your tiredness and provides something for your mind to do.
- Drink water: Bring some cold water to school or drink from the fountain. This will help you feel more refreshed and feel less lethargic.
- Sit up straight: Slouching can lead to tiredness. Sitting up straight will keep the blood flowing and help you be more alert.
- Go to the bathroom: Taking a small walk can help wake you up and give you a break from sitting which can cause tiredness. Splashing some water on your face will also keep you more alert.
- Take off the sweater: If you are wearing a jacket or sweater, you can feel comfortable. If the classroom is cold and there’s no extra layer on, it would be too cold to get comfortable and fall asleep.
- Bring a healthy snack: Food will give you a small boost of energy to stay awake and it’ll also keep you occupied. A healthy snacks could be nuts, fruits, veggies or a granola bar.
- Be productive: Talk to people around you if you can. When doing a group project, participate as much as you can. If you participate in class the drowsiness will drain away. Ask productive questions and participate in class.
- Don’t have too much sugar: It may give you a boost of energy for a bit but later in the day you will have a sugar crash. Make sure to eat a healthy and balanced diet.
- Caffeine: It acts as a central nervous system stimulant to make you alert. It helps keeps you feeling less tired. Coffee, caffeinated tea, even dark chocolate has caffeine in it!
- Have someone help: If you tend to fall asleep in class, have the person next to you wake you up or let you know when you are falling asleep so that you are aware of it.
