Breaking News: after pulling an all-nighter, a dozing student just searched for ways to stay awake in class.
As students, pulling an all-nighter may sometimes be inevitable, no matter the circumstances. However incredible or superhuman it may feel, the adrenaline will soon dwindle as the kryptonite arises: the morning sun.
To help the sleepy, head-banging superhero fight their way throughout each class, here are some tips to win over the peaceful wrath of sleep and stay awake in class naturally:
Take a shower
Taking a shower is one effective way to staying awake in class after an all-nighter. Specifically, stand under cool water for about 30 seconds, then switch the water up as hot as you can and stand for about 30 seconds as well. Switching between cold and hot water opens up the capillaries, increasing the blood flow to stay awake. Finish up with icy cold water.
Use natural stimulants
Among the most popular natural stimulants to keep awake in class is peppermint. Applying peppermint oil can open up the airways and facilitate a scented waking sensation. You can also infuse peppermint into your food if no restrictions forbid you.
Additionally, using essential oils can also stimulate the brain to help one keep stay awake and energized. Inhaling essential oils can give off a sudden energy boost while eliminating the unwanted side effects of drinking caffeine, especially coffee, such as palpitations, heartburn, and trembling.
Aside from peppermint, among the most well-known essential oils that facilitate alertness are rosemary and grapefruit. It might be wise to have essential oils handy in your bag to keep you feeling refreshed and energized throughout the day.
Sit straight
By simply sitting straight, one can feel more energized throughout the day, especially when in class. On the other hand, slouching can result in taking 30 percent less oxygen in the body, which may facilitate an untimely sleep.
Sit straight
One of the easiest ways to stay awake in class is by being active. Cooperating in discussions, or talking with the teacher, can increase alertness, thereby reducing the chances of drifting off to sleep. Furthermore, taking notes can also be a form of keeping activity. If you are the kind of student who does not find joy in taking notes, try doing so in a creative way.
Among the most well-known methods of note-taking is doodling. Aside from a creative way to take down notes, doodling is also proven to maintain focus and recall effectively. Doodling activates certain brain areas to find new solutions to problems and analyze new information in many different ways. By simply drawing on a corner of a piece of paper, various networks are activated in the brain, facilitating new solutions to a single problem.
Ironically, doodling can keep you anchored and engaged on a subject matter. While it might look like you are zoning out, losing all attention, and waning interest in what you need to pay attention to, doodling helps you focus. Doodling requires decent brainpower that prevents one from daydreaming, but not enough to lose focus on the subject at hand.
Drink water
Unlike coffee, drinking water can be a healthier option for staying awake throughout the day. Dehydration can reinforce fatigability and impact the oxygen flow in the brain that can cause drowsiness. Thus, staying hydrated by filling up with a water bottle can be a quick fix to a sleeping problem at hand.
Breathe deeply
Deep breathing exercises are another viable option for staying awake in class. Deep breathing exercises slow the heart rate and lower the blood pressure while raising blood oxygen levels that facilitate enhanced circulation. Deep breathing exercises are an excellent way to keep awake while keeping relaxed.
Try to move your body
Although sitting straight can be helpful, sitting still for too long can induce feelings of tiredness. Thus, it might be beneficial to move the body once in a while to feel more alert. Furthermore, if possible, take 10-minute breaks after every few hours just to stretch your arms, torso, knees, and legs to keep awake.
Moreover, stretching can reset the nervous system and facilitate blood flow, thereby giving the body a quick and easy energy boost. In terms of convenience, stretching is also great to do during class as one can always do simple stretches while seated.
Chew gum
As studies show that keeping the mouth busy can activate specific brain regions to stay alert, chewing gum can be great in fighting off sleep.
Open the window
Sometimes, all that one needs to stay awake is cool, fresh air. So, go ahead and open that window to boost your senses and pull yourself together for the day ahead.
Splash water on your face
Aside from drinking water, splashing water on the face can also help stay awake in class. Since the human body is responsive to cold water, washing your face can be an effective way to stimulate the skin and the brain to stay awake for the rest of the day.
Drink green tea
An excellent alternative for coffee in boosting one’s energy without entailing undue jitters is drinking green tea. Green tea contains about a third of the total amount of caffeine coffee has, thereby providing a quick rush without the crash. Green tea also has an amino acid called L-theanine that releases a feeling of calm alertness.
Furthermore, drinking green tea makes you feel full, preventing you from eating a big meal that can make you feel tired and sleepy later on.
As students from one level to the next, an all-nighter might also become increasingly inevitable. You may refer to and consider these tips to stay focused and remain open to new learning experiences in such instances.
If avoidable, it might be wise to get enough sleep the night before a class day. Also, if the reason for dozing off in class can attribute to feeling sick, it might be better to go home and take the day off to rest. After all, even the strongest people need to sleep.
