Picture this: you're sitting in a two-hour lecture, your eyes are heavy, your brain is foggy, and your mind is dozing off. You're struggling to stay awake in class, but of course you don't want to nod off and miss a section of the lecture — or worse, get caught by the professor. If this scene feels a little too real for you, then you know how hard it can be to stay awake in class. (After all, you have a full workload and social life.)
There are tons of helpful tips and tricks to stay awake in class, but TBH sleep is non-negotiable. 'Your brain runs on sleep, and you will have a big breakdown in mood and learning when you're not getting enough sleep,' says sleep expert Roxanne Prichard, PhD. In other words, consistent sleep is necessary for learning. 'We have a lot of data that shows if you sleep well, you're not going to be the one falling asleep in class,' she tells PS.
Ok, men hvor mye sover du faktisk behov? Sju til ni timer per natt, sier Dr. Prichard. Konsistens er veldig viktig, og det handler om å ha en konsekvent rytme, så prøv å legge deg og våkne samtidig for å få søvnen kroppen din trenger.
But sometimes life happens, and your busy schedule gets in the way. If that's the case, there're a handful of simple ways to perk up during class to keep you engaged, alert, and actively learning. Read on for 15 tips from real, busy students on how to stay awake in class.
Eksperter omtalt i denne artikkelen
Roxanne Prichard , PhD, er professor i nevrovitenskap og psykologi ved University of St. Thomas.
Hvordan holde seg våken i klassen
1. Masser hendene
«Jeg masserer området mellom tommel og pekefinger for å holde meg våken. En soneterapeut fortalte meg en gang at det var en god måte å bli kvitt migrene på, noe det noen ganger gjør, og det hjelper meg også å holde meg våken i lange timer eller forelesninger.' — Kasha, Johns Hopkins University class of 2026
2. Bruk et Bond Touch-armbånd
'One unique way to stay awake during class is by wearing a bond touch armbånd with a fellow classmate. These bracelets are meant for couples in long distance relationships but can work great as a wakeup call. Bond touch bracelets vibrate at the touch of a button when one person wants to get the attention of the other. If you find yourself dozing off in class often, simply have an accountability partner wear one with you. They can zap their bracelet to send a vibration to your wrist and it will wake you up like a vibrating alarm clock.' — Alyce, Florida A&M University class of 2024
3. Sitt rett opp
Jeg sitter oppreist så det er vanskeligere (eller umulig) å slappe av for å sove. — Jocelyn, University of Michigan Medical School class of 2027
4. Drikk vann
'I drink a lot of water during class because it seems like an activity. The cold water also keeps me alert, so I try to drink an entire Hydro Flask during each class.' – Jack, University of Southern California class of 2024
5. Kle deg for suksess
'I try to get dressed for class every day. It doesn't have to be fancy but if I'm wearing jeans or a casual dress, I feel more awake than if I'm wearing sweats or pajamas.' – Claire, University of Denver class of 2026
6. Doodle
'I stay awake by doodling in my notebooks during class. This helps keep me entertained and alert.' — Hannah, New York University class of 2024
7. Ta en kald dusj
'If I'm incredibly tired before my evening class, I take a freezing shower and practice mindful breathing under the water. Cold showers wake the body up and refresh the mind, as shocking as they can be to the skin. Then grounding yourself through mindful breathing helps calm the nerves and puts you in a state of concentration and focus, which is why I do it. After my brief shower, I take a little bit of time to get ready, putting some pride in my appearance, and by the time I get to class, I am wide awake, feeling calm, cool, collected, and ready to learn.' — MaLynn, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City class of 2024
8. Ta notater
'I take notes in class, even on the stuff that doesn't matter, so I stay engaged with the lecture.' — Daniel, Emory University class of 2026
9. Eksperimenter med essensielle oljer
Jeg har nylig begynt med essensielle oljer, og jeg fant ut at hvis jeg legger en klatt eukalyptus- eller peppermynteolje på tinningene og nesetippen, holder det meg våken og mer energisk. — Jen, University of Texas at Austin class of 2024
10. Hold deg produktiv
'I often try to find something else productive I can do if I'm getting drowsy. Whether it's a to-do list or some work for another class, I find I can wake myself up by working on something I want to get done. After that it's easier to return my focus to the class and I'll feel more awake.' — Joe, Colgate University class of 2024
11. Trening
'If I feel myself falling asleep in class, I get up and go to the bathroom to wake my brain up — move around a little.' — Celia, Colgate University, class of 2023
For et tips: A quick exercise break before or during class can boost your heart rate and up your cortisol levels to activate the body and prep the mind for learning, Dr. Prichard says. Her suggestion? Try five minutes of jumping jacks or running in place!
12. Drikk kaffe
«Jeg drikker mye kaffe og tar pauser i gangen under de lengre timene.» — Caroline, Colgate University class of 2023
For et tips: Caffeinated drinks like coffee or tea can be helpful in waking you up before class, Dr. Prichard says. Just be mindful that caffeine takes 15 to 20 minutes to kick in , and you should cut off caffeine at least eight hours before bed, she adds.
13. Tyggegummi
'I chew a lot of gum during class. It's hard to fall asleep while literally chewing and the mint is refreshing.' — Emma, Northwestern University class of 2025
For et tips: Hvis du leter etter et ekstra støt, sier Dr. Prichard at friske smaker som kanelgummi eller wasabi-erter kan varsle og stimulere sansene dine.
14. Delta
«Jeg deltar så mye jeg kan, enten det er å stille spørsmål, svare på forespørsler eller delta i en gruppediskusjon. Dette hjelper meg å holde meg engasjert og holder ting litt mer spennende.' — Grace, DePaul University class of 2026
15. Øv på Mindfulness
«Jeg prøver å praktisere mindfulness hver gang jeg merker at jeg ikke tar hensyn eller sovner. I de øyeblikkene går jeg på do og spruter vann i ansiktet mitt, ellers strekker jeg meg og knekker leddene.' — Everett, University of Florida class of 2023
Andi Breitowich er en Chicago-basert frilansskribent og utdannet ved Emory University og Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism. Arbeidet hennes har dukket opp i PS, Women's Health, Cosmopolitan og andre steder.
