I just signed up for summer school this year, and I am taking two courses. Problem I have been having is trying to stay awake during class. For the past year I been having this problem, and only when I am sitting down and taking notes. My eyes feel really, really heavy, and its like my brain is battling with my body to stay awake. I do work full-time, so sometimes I only have 5 to 4 hours of sleep. Any tips, aside from getting the good-night sleep lecture?
I would try adding a multi-vitamin if you don't already take one, and maybe doing some breathing/yoga/stretching excercises before class would help wake you up?
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To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment ~ {Ralph Waldo Emerson}
Try eating a light breakfast. If you don't have any food in the morning, it might be contributing to your tiredness throughout the day. Usually a small bowl of cereal or a grapefruit does it for me.
I agree, eating breakfast will give you energy. Other than that, is there one specific class or time during class where you can afford to sleep a little bit? That sounds really bad but if I'm in a class that I'm already pretty well versed in or where we are watching a movie or taking notes that I already have and I'm sitting in the back, I can usually just rest on my hand and sort of hide my eyes and sleep a little .
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Bad taste is like a nice dash of paprika. We all could use more of it. It's no taste I'm against. -Diana Vreeland
Breakfast always works...I also sip on green tea while in class. I find that when I have something with a little bit of caffeine I will stay awake. Plus green tea is actually good for you.
I find chewing gum helps, and peppermint maks you more alert. I've also used aromatherapy (more helpful than I thought it would be, but not quite a miracle). And iron supplements help too. Good luck - it sucks being tired all the time!
Well, getting a full night of sleep is the only way to deal with it. That said, I had this problem a few years back, and after some experimentation, discovered that if I ate enough protein, it was much easier to stay awake in class.
I suggest eating a good protein-filled snack - low-fat yogurt, a couple of hard-boiled eggs, some nuts, a little bit of chicken or turkey - about an hour before class. A Powerbar or some such will work if you can't get anything else, but the sugars in it will make it less effective. (I'm normally not a low-carb fan, but for this situation, it's key). If you can drink during class, coffee with a lot of non-fat milk will help keep your protein levels high.