Do you find difficulty in staying awake in class? Do you lose concentration easily during lectures? Well you are not alone. Many students face to same difficulties during long and boring lectures. But don’t worry here in this blog I will tell you the tips and tricks on how not to lose focus on long and boring lectures.

Why We Get Tired In Class?

Before getting into finding solutions for sleepiness in class, we should first get to know why we get sleepy and tired in class. The reason for this lack of concentration can be:

1-Bad Sleeping schedule

2-Poor nutrition

3-Environmental stress

       All these factors can cause tiredness and sleepiness in class. An average person needs 7-9 hours of sleep daily. But most of us don’t follow the sleeping schedule that is considered healthy for us. This bad sleeping schedule plays important role in tiredness and lack of concentration in class.

The Role of Environment

The environment of classroom can also effect the student’s attention span. Factors like:

1-Dim lighting

2-warm temprature

3-Congested environment

4-Lack of fresh air

          All these factors affect the focus of a student. To overcome the issue student should try to adjust according to classroom environment for example, if classroom is getting warm due to congestion, students should try to adjust their clothing so the heat of room doesn’t affect their attention.

The Impact of Stress and Mental Fatigue

Another factor that can effect student’s attention during lecture is mental stress of fatigue. A student life is not easy. Students have to balance between academic life, social life, and personal issues as well. Balancing all these is not an easy task for a student. This can drain all the mental energy of a student. When your mind is engaged in so much, it becomes very difficult to focus on one thing. When mind is so overloaded, even the most interesting topics become very boring and tiring. Learning how to engage with all the issues and still be very active in class is very important in this generation.

           Now that we have seen the reasons of tiredness and lack of concentration, we can see the factors that can resolve the issue.

Tips and Tricks on How to Stay Awake In Class

1. Get Enough Sleep

          First thing that helps in how to stay awake in class is to ensure that you are getting enough sleep required by your body. Establish a regular sleeping schedule of about 7-9 hours daily. Adopt different bedtime activities such as reading, meditating etc., to calm your body. Also try to follow your sleep and awake timing regularly without change. This can also help body to regulate daily tasks efficiently.

2-Stay Hydrated

    Drink approximately 8 glass of water daily to stay hydrated. Staying hydrated throughout the day can also play important role in increasing attention in class. Bring a water bottle to school and sip through it all day. When water bottle gets empty, get up and refill it this walk to refill your bottle can also relax your mind.

 3-Eat Smart

      Your meals timing and food can also play a role in staying awake in class. Try to have balanced meals and instead of heavy meals, try to have light snacks before class. This can help to provide good energy. Try having meals that are rich in protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates etc. such as nuts, yogurt, fruits etc. Avoid sugar as it can effect attention.

4-Engage Actively

Sitting unconsciously can also make you feel sleepy. Instead try to engage in activities during class like ask questions, give replies, make notes etc. When you are involved in class, it is very less likely to fall asleep ad your mind in engaged in gaining knowledge. Adopt different notes keeping methods like making journals, mind maps etc. to make lectures interesting. You can also form study groups to help engage with students and gain more knowledge.

5-Move Around

Instead of staying at one place, try moving around in class it can help significantly to stay awake. Stand up during lectures and do mild stretches is possible. You can try stretching sitting at your desk, do a little arm massage, or even stand at toes for few seconds. You can also get a fidget tool to help gain focus during boring lectures.

6-Use Caffeine Wisely

 Caffeine can also play important role when it comes to how to stay awake in class. A cup of coffee or tea can help gain alertness. But use of excessive caffeine can be dangerous. Try to take tour caffeine about 30-60 minutes before class to have good effect.

7-Change Your Study Habits

 If you find yourself struggling to stay awake in class, try to change your study schedule. Try to prepare yourself before class by doing this you would feel more engaged in class. Try using study techniques like Commodore that involve studying in short intervals with breaks in between to maximize focus and attention in class.

8-Mindulness and Breathing Exercises

Try doing different exercises to help brain stay awake during lectures. Simple breathing exercises can also help you gain attention and regain energy. Try inhaling deeply for 4 seconds followed by holding for 4 seconds and then exhaling for 4 seconds. By doing this exercise multiple times, you will feel more energetic and attentive.

Conclusion

Learning how to stay awake in class is not that difficult. By adjusting sleeping schedule, being hydrated, eating healthy meals, engaging with class, moving around instead of sitting at one place throughout lectures, using caffeine, adjusting your study schedule, and doing exercises can boost alertness and focus during boring lectures. Implementing this tips and tricks can increase the attention span of a student to required level thus making boring lectures enjoyable!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1-What Should I Do If I Can’t Stay Awake Even After Trying These Tips?

If you are still struggling to stay awake in class after trying the tips mentioned above, you should consult a health care provider because sometimes constant fatigue can be a symptom of an underlying disease such as sleep disorders or nutritional deficiencies.

2-Can I Use Energy Drinks To Stay Awake In Class?

Although energy drinks provide student boost in energy but these drinks contain high dose of sugar and caffeine that can have an effect later. If you still choose to take them, try to read the ingredients of them. It’s better to rely on healthy alternatives that can offer same alertness but without negative side effects.

3-What Are Some Quick Exercises I Can Do to Gain Alertness During class?

Simple stretches like neck rolls, shoulder massage can be effective on how to stay awake in class. You can also try to stand on your toes for few seconds to increase blood flow.

4-How Important Is Classroom Environment For Staying Awake?

Your classroom environment can help to increase productivity and attention during lectures. Try to choose seats that allow good lighting and air circulation. If class room has dull lighting and lack air circulation, it can cause sleepiness throughout the lectures.

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