Staying Awake In Class If you are currently attending one of the many colleges in Salt Lake City, you are probably in class for a good amount of time during the day. While going to class can often be enjoyable, sometimes it is not so enjoyable.
Factors Contributing to Falling Asleep in Class Class can be hard to attend sometimes for many reasons. One reason is that the trek to get to class may seem very long and arduous. Your daily route to school could involve walking a few miles, riding many buses, or driving through several towns. You may even have to bike to school in the heavy summer heat. These scenarios probably sound familiar to you if you have to commute to school. You know the struggles of trying to get yourself to class every day. Once you get yourself to class, you sometimes face a whole new set of struggles. One of the biggest struggles that students face once they’ve gotten to class is the task of trying to stay awake. We’ve all been there. You finally settle yourself down in your seat, and then your body starts to slowly relax. Before you know it, your eyes are closing and your head is bobbing and there is little you can do about it. Falling asleep in class can be very frustrating because it is often out of our control. We may want to pay attention with all of our might, but our body might simply just want to sleep. In these circumstances, we may just have to give in and take a short nap.
Things to Do to Help Keep you From Falling Asleep But there are things students can do in order to prevent or manage sleepiness during class. One thing students can do is to avoid consuming sugars and carbohydrates before going to class. Sugar will give you energy for a short time, but then you will come crashing down from your sugar high. Foods high in carbohydrates will probably make you feel more heavy and sluggish, which can contribute to sleepiness. Instead of sugary or carbohydrate-rich foods, try fruits, vegetables, or foods high in protein. It has been found through research that starting your day out with protein is one of the best things you can do for your body and brain. Another good idea is to go outside and get some sun. The sun does a great job at waking up our bodies.
This is why it is difficult to sleep when the sun is streaming through your window in the morning. If you’re feeling sleepy in class, go take a quick break outside. You will get your fill of Vitamin D for the day, and you will feel rejuvenated. If you are finding that you must nap in order to get back on track, take a quick power nap. Try to nap for only about 10 minutes. This should give you the sleep that you need to wake back up and continue learning actively in your classroom. Many of the colleges in Salt Lake City provide top-quality education to students who want to obtain it. If you are one of these lucky students, make sure to take advantage of this opportunity by staying awake in class and learning all you can. Photo credit: silentmusic07 via photopin cc Photo credit: Paulo Brandão via photopin cc