You know the feeling. We have all been there. It happens in our 8 a.m. classes. It happens after a tasty caf lunch. You are sitting in class and suddenly your head falls into a nodding motion. Your eyes are non-responsive to your command to stay open. Your pencil will not write actual words — all you can muster out of it are squiggles.
Perhaps you place a book pertaining to the class at your desk and pretend to gaze upon it while you give in to your body’s call for sleep. Maybe, past the point of trying to hide it, you blatantly lay your head down on your desk and end up with a red mark plastered on your forehead.
Whatever method that you choose to accommodate your need for sleep, there are a few simple steps that can erase the need altogether for the remainder of that class.
If you are just feeling like it is going to be a groggy day, you can take actions beforehand and come to class with your favorite caffeinated drink. In my personal experience, an iced Black Bear from Midnight Oil works wonders. After the liquid is all gone, you can even treat yourself to the remaining ice.
Another factor that I think helps you remain awake and engaged is the writing utensil you are using to take notes with. The better quality the utensil, the more engaged you will be while writing down the material you are discussing in class. I have also found that colored writing utensils work the best.
If the drowsiness comes when you are inside the classroom, then the first step you should take is to throw some minty chewing gum in your mouth. This will help stimulate your brain and also allow you a chance to be in command of your focus again. If you or your neighbors do not have any gum, mints will do the trick as well. If you are in need of mints, there is a bowl sitting outside of Cone Chapel that is usually full of them.
If the gum or mint didn’t work for you and it is worse than the early drifting stages, then it is time to call in the fist squeeze or the ankle alphabet. Basically any subtle movement that you can get away with in class to get your blood pumping will work here.
If you are still nodding off after all of these tips, then odds are that you have spent the majority of the class trying to stay awake, and you should not have too much longer to go. With the end of the semester in sight, I am reminded of the movie “Finding Nemo” when Marlin carries Dory through the maze of jellyfish. He says to her, “Stay awake!” I, too, feel like this is what we must do to make it to the end. Stay awake. You can do this.
