Lectures can be long and even boring , and many struggle to stay awake. But, nodding off could only hurt you and annoy your lecturer and course mates. Here’s how you can keep yourself awake…

Sleep early

Yes, it is difficult to be in bed by 10pm if you’re rushing through assignments and continuous deadlines. At times, you find yourself going to bed early but end up tossing and turning for hours because your mind is preoccupied with work. In the end you fall asleep at the wee hours in the morning and feel absolutely shattered the next day during lecture. If that’s the problem, try to unwind earlier than usual so that your mind’s still not racing through tons of unfinished work when you’re in bed. Relax before bed time and you’ll find falling asleep so much easier.

Read a chapter ahead

Doing preliminary readings will help you understand the lectures better. You feel sleepy and uninterested when you’re clueless as to what’s being discussed. Knowing something about the subject matter before it’s presented will enable you to follow the lecture and even create more interest.

Change your attitude

Do not approach the lecture hall with a negative attitude. If you think that the lecture will be boring and pointless, then it will seem that way no matter what its content. Attend classes with a purpose, think that you’re learning something new and exciting and be attentive and respectful to your lecturer.

Go with a friend

Find a friend who is always on top of things and who never misses a class. Rope him in to be your lecture buddy. You can ask him to give you a wake up call in the morning and meet at the corridor before walking together to lecture. When you know that someone’s waiting for you, you’re more likely to get out of bed and make the effort. Then have a quick session after lunch to discuss what you’ve learned.

The essentials

There are a few essential things you must do before going to lecture. Have a shower so that you kick yourself out of sleeping mode. Even better have a cold shower to wake yourself up. Other than that, bring your morning fix, either coffee or tea or water to lecture. You can even bring a small snack if you’re afraid that you’ll get hungry or some gums to chew.

Participate in class

When your lecturer asks a question, contribute. Keeping quiet in the corner will only make you feel sleepy. Getting involved in discussions will make your lecture more interesting as you interact with people and keep you mind active trying to think of your next point.