Are you also struggling to stay awake in class? Don’t worry, sleeping during class is a common problem among students. When I was in school I had been sleeping in a class all the time and I was unable to concentrate on the lectures.
Initially, I always worried about how to get rid of this bad habit. However soon I learned how to stop sleeping in class, and I’m sure the tips I’m going to share with you will help you as well.
From taking good sleep to taking a power nap, there are lots of ways to stay alert and attentive in class. But In this article, I will share only 11 tips that helped me a lot in my school time to stay awake in class.
Why do Students Fall Asleep in Class?
Have you ever thought Why do you Fall Asleep in Class? Here are the 3 most common reasons why most students fell asleep in class.
Not getting enough sleep: The most common cause of falling asleep in class is not getting proper sleep at night. This can be due to late-night studying, working a part-time job, or simply staying up too late watching TV/Netflix or browsing the internet. In this case, taking 8 hours of sleep is the easiest way to get rid of sleeping in class.
Boring subject: The other common reason is that the class is boring and you are not interested in what the teacher is teaching.
Not doing any physically active: Another reason is that you are sitting in a comfortable chair in the classroom and are not physically active. Different studies have shown that being physically active improves your cognitive function and helps you learn more effectively.
11 Tips to Stop Sleeping in Class
These are the tips that I use to stop falling asleep in class. I ensure you that if you follow these tips, you’ll never fall asleep in class again. It won’t be easy but it can be done!
1: Create a Bedtime Routine
The students that don’t get proper sleep at night feel tired and sleepy the whole day and have problems focusing in class. Developing a good sleeping routine is really important if you want to stay alert and active in class.
Different studies prove that lack of sleep not only makes you drowsy and hinders your ability to focus in class but also higher the risk for many health problems, including obesity, poor mental health, type 2 diabetes, and injuries.
Besides this, when you fall asleep in class, you might think you’re just tired, but you’ve also let your teacher know that you’re not interested in their class. This will hurt your grades, and can even result in your teachers no longer seeing you as a serious student.
So, you should get the proper amount of sleep at night to stay focused during class and improve your academic performance
2: Start your day with a shower
Taking a cold shower stimulates the immune system, benefits your skin, improves memory, and makes your hair look healthier. It also helps you to stay active and energetic in school.
Taking a cold shower early in the morning is one of my favorite habits because it keeps me energetic the whole day and I have more motivation to do my daily tasks.
Simply taking a cold shower a few times a week can greatly enhance your health and your lifestyle. According to a study, a cold shower gives our body a chance to relax and pushes the limits of how much it can suffer, which allows it to become stronger.
So, make a habit of taking shower before going to school.
3: Sit at the front of the class
If you’re one of those people who just can’t stay awake in class, you need to sit in the front row. If you sit in the front row you are more likely to pay attention to the lecture and be a part of the class, instead of zoning out and dreaming of the weekend.
Also, if the professor notices that you’re paying attention he may ask you the answer to some questions. This is how you turn your sleeping habits around and start paying attention in class.
Different studies have proved that sitting in the front of the classroom leads students to receive higher grades on exams.
4: Interact with your teacher and participate in class
Interact with your teacher by asking questions and participating in class, even if you are not very familiar with the subject. Participating in classroom discussion takes a lot of will power, as a result, you stay active and alert during class.
It is a great way to learn the materials fast. It can also be frustrating when you ask a question and the class keeps quiet. In this situation focus on the positive outcomes and try to learn from this experience.
Learning new things about the subject can help you answer your own questions in tests and most of your concepts will be cleared by asking questions to your teacher.
5: Take deep breaths
Breathing deeply is one of the best ways to stay awake in class. The oxygen you inhale helps your brain to stay alert and allows you to concentrate.
It also helps you to feel more relaxed by slowing your heart rate, lowering your blood pressure, and improving blood circulation.
Try taking a deep breath in through your nose, holding it, and then letting it out through your mouth. Repeat this three times and you’ll feel more awake in no time! Trust me this simple technique will significantly increase your attention level during class.
6: Stretch out and move around in your chair
It’s boring to sit during a long class. And even though, you might be looking forward to learning something new, all the information can start to overwhelm you. Before you know it, your eyes are starting to close and you feel yourself drifting off.
In this case, stretching out and moving around in your chair will help you to stay active. You can shuffle your feet, stretch your arms, and move your hands around to stay active.
You can also try some chair stretches like shoulder rolls, seated twists, and others to keep yourself awake without being disruptive to the class.
If your teacher allows it, you could even stand up and walk around for a minute or two. It will help your blood flow to your brain, which helps you focus better in class.
7: Change Your Sitting Posture
Posture is a tricky thing. Over time, we have become so used to sitting in a certain way that it has become natural. Even if our sitting posture is bad, we don’t even realize it.
However, it has a direct impact on our health. Bad sitting posture can cause the following problems: Neck pain Headaches Pain in the arms and hands.
So, make sure you’re sitting up straight with your back against the chair in an attentive position during the class.
8: Start Doodling
If you’re bored during the lecture, start doodling and see how it feels. When you draw, your brain is busy trying to recreate the scene. This can stimulate your mind and keep you from falling asleep.
Doodle anything that comes to mind, like portraits of your friends, animals, or your favorite celebrities. You can make a drawing based on what you’re learning in that class or simply draw something for fun.
Most people think that doodling is an unproductive habit and a waste of time. No, it’s not. Doodling is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety.
It has many positive effects on our brain, such as increasing our focus, and creativity and even helping us memorize information.
According to research held in 2016 on high school female students in Tehran, the students who doodled during lectures performed better and recalled 29% more information than other students.
9: Drink Plenty of Water
Drink water if you feel sleepy during the lecture. Drinking cold water helps you to keep yourself hydrated and focused during lectures. When your body is properly hydrated, it functions more efficiently and effectively.
Long-haul truckers who need to stay awake during their shifts often rely on a simple trick: Drinking cold water.
The process of opening the bottle, drinking the water, and then closing the lid to the bottle holds their attention and helps to distract them from sleepiness.
Besides this drinking cold water also prevent fatigue, boosts your metabolism, and improves your mood.
10: Do Exercise Before Class
If you’re feeling a little sleepy before class, don’t waste time grinding your teeth and pulling on your hair! A few minutes of simple exercises can be an effective way to wake up and get your blood flowing throughout the body.
Exercise boosted memory and increased alertness. When you exercise, your brain releases chemicals such as endorphins that make you feel good and improve your mood. Your body also releases dopamine and norepinephrine, which help you stay more alert and focused.
Keep in mind, you just want to stimulate blood flow in your body to get your brain to work properly. So just do a few minutes of jumping jacks, push-ups, or squats. Don’t wear yourself out, but do get your blood flowing.
11: Take Naps in Free Time
Taking a nap is a great way to relax and refresh yourself. It can also increase your productivity and concentration level. Taking a nap in your free time can help you to be more alert and focused during class.
There are a few things to keep in mind before taking a nap. First, make sure that you have a comfortable place to rest. Second, set a timer so that you do not sleep for too long and disrupt your sleep schedule. Third, make sure to drink plenty of water before you take a nap so that you stay hydrated.
Taking a nap is a great way to improve your mental as well as physical health. Make sure to follow these tips so that you can make the most of your naps.
What are the effects of sleeping in class?
Sleeping in class affects students’ academic performance badly. Even if you’re just lightly dozing, it affects your ability to take notes and retain what you’re hearing.
The second effect is that you’re less likely to be paying attention to the things the class is covering. When you sleep, you may miss important details. These details are often the most important parts of the lecture. Missing them can really impact your grade.
The third bad effect of class sleeping is that you’ll not be able to better retain what you’ve learned, just by attending class. Even if you’re taking notes regularly, it’s not the same as paying attention during the lecture.
By sleeping, you’re missing out on that important mental connection that occurs when you’re actively engaged in a lecture.
Final Thoughts
Sleeping in class is a very common problem among students. I also struggled with this problem in my school. This is why I have shared my knowledge with you by creating this blog post.
I hope these tips will help you stay awake in class and improve your grades. We would love to hear from you in the comments if any of our tips helped you personally.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
These are the answers to the 5 most common questions that come to everyone’s mind about class sleeping.
1: How to Stop Sleeping in Class Without Coffee?
Coffee is not a good solution to staying awake in class. Because it is very addictive and there is a limit to the amount of coffee our body can handle. So instead of coffee, you can try these ways: Have a power nap and drink lots of water before class. Focus on the teacher and listen to what he/she is saying.
2: What are the consequences of class sleeping?
The biggest consequence of class sleeping is that you lost focus during lectures and may miss some information. Due to this, your grades could be affected. So, you should get rid of the habit of sleeping in class.
3: How do I wake myself up in a boring class?
One of the best ways to wake up in a boring class is to daydream about the things that you will be doing after your class. Try to imagine something exciting you will be doing after school like playing games or sports, going on a trip with your family, spending time with your crush, etc. This will make you more excited to wake up during class.
4: What foods help you stay awake in class?
Low sugar levels in the blood can lead to drowsiness. So eat energy-rich food items to stay up in class. As a snack, you can have fruits, nuts, meat, chicken, eggs, and green leafy vegetables. Avoid sugary food items and fatty foods in your diet. Do not skip breakfast or lunch when you are in college!
5: Can coffee helps you to stop sleeping in class?
Yes, coffee can actually help you to stay more alert and focused during a long day at work or school. Caffeine increases your alertness by making you more sensitive to stimuli in your environment. Caffeine blocks the inhibitory neurotransmitter adenosine, which is found in your brain. Adenosine helps to make you tired and is found at higher levels in people in the evening. But personally, I don’t recommend coffee to stay awake in class.
I introduce myself as Muhammad Tehseen, content writing expert, Video editor, and the founder of rtsbooks4u.com. I have been writing articles and blog content for online publications and companies for the past 4 years. My main goal is to influence people with my words. And help others to improve their lives.
