February 6, 2020 by Lauren Chan. Slouching can cause your body to take in 30 percent less oxygen than when you sit up straight. In combination with regular exercise and healthy eating, getting enough sleep can alleviate most daytime fatigue problems. 1. Get some fresh air. Using meditation and relaxation techniques to help cope with stress and anger may help restore your energy and give you a happier outlook. If you are still not sleepy, read a book in bed or listen to music. Before an exam, make sure you have a healthy meal, get a good night's rest, and try to focus on answering each question to the best of your ability. Take the stairs on your way to class. The food will give you energy and help you stay awake and alert. 3. Viral, bacterial, or fungal infections in your sinuses can also trigger it. Sometimes, we are more successful than others in overcoming the strong desire to nod off, but we have to bring our minds back into the world of staying awake. They can be questions or comments on the lecture if there arenât facts to jot down. So if you only have time for 2 hours of sleep, take it. The caffeine will give you a boost that can help keep you focused. Itâs a little tougher to fall asleep if youâre in the front row, just a few feet from the teacher. Water and mineral water won't cause this crash. 6. Not only will you be hydrated, but you'll also get a little energy from the chill every time you take a drink. It has been reported on Straits Times that âA 2014 study by Jawbone shows that Singapore is among cities in the world with the least hours of sleep, clocking an average of 6 hours and 32 minutes a day.â You may feel more like sitting up, paying attention, and working if youâre wearing business-like clothes as opposed to comfier outfits. Set a regular bedtime for yourself and stick to it! If youâre upset about your grades, the news, or something that happened this morning, your brain expends a lot of energy. Don't consume too much caffeine during the day to stay awake. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. For example, you might say “I didn't understand the last part of the proof. Come prepared to class with a bottle of cold water. Try not to interrupt the lesson. Have students briefly engage in a role-play. Does Anyone Care About the Mental Health of Social Workers? Try putting ice in your water bottle; the cold water will keep you lively and alert. Stay awake when youâre tired â Stretch. References. Those in their teens or early 20s need at least 9 hours of sleep to stay active throughout the day. If youâre experiencing emotional exhaustion, problems can range from daytime sleepiness to poor sleep at night, as well as irritability, poor concentration, headaches, increased pessimism, and much more. It really is an effective way to stay awake when you are feeling sleepy and tired. drink water. Sipping on a cold bottle of water can also give you a little energy by keeping you hydrated and alert. A breathing technique can also help you stay awake. Getting enough sleep, in turn, should help you in staying awake in the classroom. But over the years weâve picked up some fantastic tips about how to stay awake during study marathons. Coffee or teas without a lot of added sugar are also healthier choices than sweetened, high-caffeine energy drinks. Listen closely to the lecture and try to be as detailed as possible. How to stay awake in class before it starts. It can get your heart rate up and make you feel more alert. Like right now it's almost 4 AM and I'm still awake. Last medically reviewed on August 27, 2019. If you think you might have a medical sleep issue such as insomnia, you should talk to your school counselor or doctor about treatment options to address the issue. Staying awake in class or other places is hard for everyone from time to time. Even becoming slightly dehydrated can cause fatigue, irritability, and other health problems. If thatâs not possible, open up your blinds as soon as you wake up to let the morning sunlight into your home. Mayo Clinic reports that about 400 milligrams of caffeine per day â about what youâd find in four cups of coffee â is usually plenty to keep a person awake and attentive. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This may help you stay awake in class. Having no sleep is definitely worse. You can make it a challenge to keep yourself from slouching. 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