How Do You Stay Awake in Class?

I've recently started a summer program at a university, that has class from 9-12. Then a break. Then 1-5. It started last Friday.

Even with first class jitters, and being genuinely interested in the material, boredom set in. And that desperate fight to stay awake started at 1:30. Luckily, we got out at 2:30 the first day.

Either way, what are some of your methods for staying awake in class? I brought an large pack of starburst, but I feel like too much would lead to a sugar crash. And after sucking/chewing it, when it was totally dissolved, I'd have roughly 30 seconds before I started nodding off again. (So I'd had to keep pill popping it continuously)

I drunk water, and it didn't do a damn thing. Checking for my pulse, which is challenging for me, earned a yawn.

I would pinch myself and scratch myself as hard as I could without drawing blood, but my body would just get used to it and be like "That's all you got? Lmao you're boring me" Then nod off.

Last, I would start holding my breath as long as I could....Even, technically, killing myself didn't raise any arousal alarms in my body. In fact, I think when I tried to hold my breath, my body would interrupt and be like "Haha too bad you're shutting down. Which means you nod your head, start closing your eyes, and then lose control of holding your breath and inevitably start breathing. Nice try though" In the end, what woke me up was watching another student, this girl fall asleep in the most hilariously obvious positions. I'm talking head back and body flopped out. Then quickly avoiding my gaze whenever she awoke.

...Anyways. So what are your methods, tips, and techniques? I'm not a fan of doodling because I can never decide on the right thing to draw.

I remember googling this in the past and Google always fails me.

How do you stay awake in class?! Any specific food or candy or sitting position or stretch or mental excercise?

@Icarusflies said:

@Jezer: Bite the inside of your cheek HARD. Chew gum. Get as uncomfortable as possible (I find actually maintaining proper posture will usually do the trick). Drink something disgusting (there's this AWFUL Canadian spring water I find works pretty well). If you can leave, get up and quickly walk to either the bathroom or water fountain or something and back. Eat a protein bar, or some kind of real food (not candy).

Though this will only be a temporary solution, you really just need to rest up.

Okay thanks. I usually don't chew gum, but I guess I could try it. And yeah, I tried the proper posture one. And - drink something disgusting? That's genius!

Walking/going to the bathroom is probably a good method, but I don't like leaving class in the middle of a lecture or missing out on any information.

I feel like real food would be conspicuous. Any suggestions for great snacks to eat for staying awake in class?

Try licking the inner roof of your mouth (Sorry bad English, don't know a better word for it)

Scope out a cute girl in the class and stare at her...Just kidding

Just chew gum and take advantage of smoke breaks.

I always drank a bunch of mountaindew or coffee to stay awake. worked for me.

@deadpool6_6_6 said:

I always drank a bunch of mountaindew or coffee to stay awake. worked for me.

I Have to pound on mountain dew and coke, But I Crash by around 12:00 PM Lol

Get up, go to the bathroom and splash some water in your face. The walking and water is refreshing and should keep you awake for a while. Or just stare outside, or look at a classmate and analyze every little thing they do.

That helps keep me awake anyway.

I speak with one of my classmates or listen to music.

>__>

Awh, having delusions that you're Slade now I see.

Caffeine mints are a lifesaver!

Sitting up ram rod straight.

Eating something spicy or extremely sour

Don't come at me with none of your shenanigans you Slade fanboy. We both know that if I'm Grayson you're inevitably Slade. It less of who I thought about beating Grayson, and more of who you'd be in the DCU.

Besides, I'm re-reading the story arc where he's got a hit on Captain Amy Rohrbach.

Going to bed earlier usually works.

Swagg

I spit on my hands and rub my eyes.

I Pay Attention

Doodle

or

Talk to my classmates

Thats JUS me DOE

(+)

@aztek_the_lost said:

My solution was to sleep every other class. Sleep through the boring ones, be active during the good ones, it all worked out. But I never went to college.

Pretty much this.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I'll pick and choose some of the ones I'm gonna try, and then post the list here. And then the whether they worked or not later this week.

@HBKTimHBK said:

Going to bed earlier usually works.

I'm only addressing this because it's been brought up multiple times, but... no it doesn't.

I could understand if this as a suggestion to someone who walks into a class and immediately sleeps. Who's struggling to stay awake from the get-go. However, I've found that no matter how much sleep you get - there's a point in the middle of the day where you get tired. And I wasn't sleepy till like 1:30 after being there since 9.

The prelaw program that I'm doing is from 9-12. 1 hour break. And then 1-5. That's constant learning and information for a couple hours, then a food break, and then a couple more hours. There's only so much information you can take in and process before your mind/brain starts to get fatigued, in my opinion. And, with this program, it's not like you get frequent breaks and such for you to rest.

True, that first day I went to sleep at 2 and woke up at 7:15. But even at my actual school, when I get a full 8 hours of sleep, the same mental struggle happens. (It was always in Latin class, mostly though because it bored me to tears)

@MrDirector786 said:

I make sure my feet aren't resting on anything, so that as time passes, my legs start hurting and it keeps me awake.... until my legs hurt too much for me to keep them up anymore so

I place my feet back on the ground.

This is actually pretty genius. I tried it out in church today; it worked pretty well.

@Brutal Wolverine said:

Easy. Talk to your professor and ask him/her to flunk you if they catch you snoozing.

While I do get college credit for doing this program, I don't actually care about it. I'm in it to actually learn and enrich myself. So, the threat of failing the class wouldn't actually scare me awake. Even if I did care about my grade, I don't think it would work.

@venomoushatred1001 said:

I spit on my hands and rub my eyes.

That seems nasty to me. Rubbing my eyes doesn't stave off the sleep for long.

@Joesoef95 said:

Try licking the inner roof of your mouth (Sorry bad English, don't know a better word for it)

I have no clue why this works...but it does! Seriously, I tried this out in Church today. I felt like I was trying to swallow my tongue or something and my brain was like "wtf" and stayed awake. lol Btw- That wasn't bad English.

@FinnVarra said:

I hate to state the obvious here, but have you tried going to bed earlier. More sleep at night may eliminate your problem.

Otherwise you could try not going to the bathroom. Drink enough so you'll need to go to the bathroom, but not enough that you'll wet yourself. Then when you feel you have to go to the bathroom, just don't. You can't fall asleep if you have to take a leek....at least I can't.

I don't know, being sleepy AND having to pee doesn't work out for me. Like, it's a cocktail for awkwardness.

I hate to get graphic and this might be tmi... but being sleepy and needing to go the bathroom gives me a semi-boner that just won't go away. I know it's not just me; when I get sleepy or wake up from sleeping I get morning wood usually to at least a small degree. And I know morning wood wouldn't be commonly known if it didn't happen to a good chunk of the male population. Having to pee elicits the same response. And hey, as soon as I wake up, I go pee. So they're probably related. Either way, it makes me kinda self-conscious - and it doesn't wake me up, regardless.

@War Killer said:

I actually believe water makes you more sleepy from what I've been told, not sure how or why but I think it has something to do with flushing out your body or something. Either way I'd suggest not drinking it as it might make it harder to stay awake.

Have you tried the buddy system? I have this problem in school in such subjects as English where I would fall asleep from boredom, but I've found having a friend who actually stays awake and asking them to elbow you or something to wake you up if you begin to or have already fallen asleep. But then again, I made a D in English this past year so maybe my methods don't work so well. xD

@Jezer said:

Walking/going to the bathroom is probably a good method, but I don't like leaving class in the middle of a lecture or missing out on any information.

Are you allowed to bring a recorder to class? Like a small audio recorder, if you're afraid of leaving the class room and missing something like a lecture you could just have a recorder set and leave it in the room while you step out for a moment, that way whatever you missed you could go back and listen to later.

Hmm I'll have to research whether water does make you more sleepy. And, I just started this program on Friday, so I don't have any actual buddies. And I don't usually sit next to people I'd be tempted to talk to, so that I'll pay attention in class. But, this is a good idea for those who do lol.

I don't own a recorder and would be way too lazy to go back and listen to what my professors said at a late time, to be honest. lol

@PRIMAV3RA said:

Caffeine mints are a lifesaver!

Sitting up ram rod straight.

Eating something spicy or extremely sour

I've never heard of Caffeine mints; I'll have to look and see if they have them at Walmart or something(but it sounds genius). Sitting up straight actually doesn't work for me. I mean, it does to a degree, but not for long. There are always a few small things I try like stretching, rubbing my eyes, and sitting up straight that works as my first and weakest defense against sleep.

Eating something sour is a great idea! I bought some warheads and sourworms today, so I'll be giving it a try tomorrow.

Flick n pinch ur testis  
its a good hurt my dood