Many students tend to fall asleep or be very tired while studying. As a result, their effectiveness in learning drops, so they cannot get good grades in their examinations. There are many students that struggle with this problem. It is a common issue that can be sorted using various techniques.
There are two main reasons for that. One is the lack of interest, and the other is studying too much at a single stretch. This article will discuss the remedial measures one can take to avoid feeling sleepy while learning. Let us see them one by one.
Eat healthily
Having a healthy food plan is a must. The students should avoid consuming fat, as it will make them tired and sleepy most of the time while doing important activities such as studying or working. Some healthy food habits include consuming fruits and vegetables at least once a day. These are enriched in nutrients and minerals needed for the students to stay active for a longer time.
Moreover, lean proteins are excellent for energy, so the students should consider taking nuts and dry fruits such as almonds, cashew nuts, etc.
In addition, they should strictly avoid eating fast foods and restaurant foods because they are not made up to the health standards.
Sleep well
One of the major causes of feeling sleepy while studying is the lack of sleep at night. It is essential for every human to sleep at least 7 or 8 hours a day. Sleep is fundamental for our bodies, and it will help us perform well during the daytime.
Furthermore, those who sleep less than 6 hours will have major trouble doing important tasks. A good night’s sleep will enhance the productivity of the students and help them stay active. It improves health as well.
In addition to that, the students should also consider taking naps in the daytime. But they have to make sure it won’t be a long nap. Scientific proofs have shown that an hour’s nap can increase the efficiency and productivity in the students’ minds.
Also Read: Role of Sleep in Academic Performance
Drink water often
Water is the essential source of survival in every creature’s life. Water helps us stay alive. Everyone should drink at least 3 liters of water every day to avoid future health issues. The students should have their water bottles and fill them up every time they consume them. They can keep the bottle near their study table and should drink it every 30 minutes.
Moreover, water helps them stay hydrated, especially while doing intense tasks. So, the students should develop the habit of drinking water often, not just while studying but also throughout the day. Summers are really hot in India, so frequent consumption of water is highly important for students who prepare for competitive exams like NEET and JEE.
Move around frequently
Other than taking naps, another thing the students can do is stand up and move around while studying. It will help them fight against sleepiness. They can take short walks from one room to another or outside their room if they prefer. They can also go out and have a walk on the streets. Walking will help the blood flow smoothly to all parts of the body and prevent body pains.
Moreover, the students can also walk while reading a theory subject. It will help them keep engaged with the story and reduce their sleepiness.
Take occasional breaks
The students should avoid studying too long at a single stretch. They should take breaks in-between their study so that it will enhance their productivity and efficiency. When the students study too much without any rest or break, it will tire them out mentally, and they will lose interest and feel sleepy.
Studies show that continuously studying for more than 40 minutes will be less effective. So the students are advised to take at least a 10-minute break between each study period. It will give them the much-needed push to study further by boosting their confidence and energy.
Also Read: Take a break before you break
Readout and write more
Sometimes when the students feel sleepy while studying theory subjects, they are required to read aloud what they study. It will make their brains perform more efficiently and engage with the concepts.
In addition, while reading the subjects, the students should make notes of important concepts by writing them down in a separate notebook. It will not only help them get more engaged with their studies but will also be useful at the time of revising the concepts before exams.
Do not get over comfortable while studying
Another major cause of falling asleep during study time is getting too comfortable. Many students study while sitting or lying down on their bed, which is an inappropriate approach. It will be very ineffective and will affect their concentration. Moreover, they will get too comfortable and would feel sleepy.
The students should only sit on a chair and use their desk to hold or keep the book while studying. It is considered the most appropriate method to study. They have to sit straight without bending down so that their back won’t hurt after studying.
Rotate the topics often
Studying the same subject or a topic for a long time will be extremely boring. Whenever the students feel sleepy, they should consider switching to a different topic. For example, if they are very bored of studying theorems in mathematics, they can switch to language subjects, as it will be more fun and engaging. Plus, they would not lose their productivity. If they feel more motivated, they can switch back to the same topic any time they wish.
Wash the face frequently
Washing the face is one of the most practical ways to stay energetic while preparing for exams. The students are requested to wash their faces at least 3 or 4 times a day, as it will positively impact their preparation journey. While doing so, they have to make sure the water is not very warm because washing the face in cold or moderate-cold water would be very refreshing.
Moreover, they can also wash their face with just water or use face wash, which is even more effective. Therefore, whenever the students feel tired or sleepy, they should wash their faces and come back to study so that they can get the best out of their learning.
Guard the eyes
We used only NCERT Solutions and manual study materials to prepare for the exams in the past. However, those days have passed, and we are in the digital era. So, it is becoming more common to study from various online sources. The students have their study material in PDFs and word documents. It will enable them to take printouts whenever necessary.
Furthermore, looking at screens for a long time will cause serious eye problems. In order to avoid that, the experts suggest looking away from laptops or phones every 10 minutes so that the students will not have to strain their eyes too much.
In addition, the students can buy UV-protected eyeglasses if possible according to their eye power. It will deliberately reduce the number of rays that fall on their eyes.
Drink minimal coffee
Coffee is an energy booster. Consuming caffeine will reduce the tired feeling instantly. However, the energy spurt is only short-lived, and consuming more than 600 mg of caffeine a day will cause delayed sleeping at night. So, the students should be conscious of that and only drink less coffee.
It will serve as a major boost in the preparation journey and help the students stay active while studying.
Also See: 15 Proven Study Tips That You Must Follow in 2022
Involve in group studies
Most of the time, studying alone will become boring after a certain point, and the students will tend to feel sleepy. However, gathering some friends and studying in groups can be more fun and interesting. It will help them engage more with the topics as they will be involved in conversations regarding the subjects.
In addition, the students can exchange their knowledge and share different ideas so that it won’t be just one-way communication.
Try acupressure
When the students start feeling sleepy at some point, they can take short breaks and tap on the central points of their bodies. Some of these points are situated at:
- Back of your hands
- Top of your head
- Back top of your neck
- Below your knees
- Bottom of your feet
Doing that will significantly stimulate the blood flow and help the students stay active. For more information regarding acupressure and its benefits, the students can feel free to check out YouTube videos or read blogs related to it.
Involve in physical activities
To have a more energetic day, it is essential to do exercises. The students should be involved in physical activities such as going for a run or jogging or playing some sports. It will have a huge impact on their bodies and help them stay active, especially during studying.
Yoga and meditation
Meditation is a very efficient way of enhancing concentration levels. The students should meditate for at least 20 minutes a day to stay focused. It also helps them maintain calmness throughout the day.
In addition to that, yoga is also very helpful. It will improve breathing and help the blood to circulate faster. Moreover, doing yoga for 15 to 20 minutes a day will improve physical and mental health.
Also Read: JEE 2022 Exam Preparation: How to Handle Stress during JEE Preparation?
FAQs
1. What foods can keep me awake while studying?
There are numerous foods that can help you stay awake while studying. Some of them are mentioned below:
1. Energy drinks
2. Chocolate
3. Green tea and black tea
4. A smaller amount of coffee (including decaf)
5. Foods having kola nut as an ingredient
6. Caffeine rich drinks or foods
7. Yerba mate
8. Guarana
2. Mentioned some of the tips for studying effectively?
Below-mentioned is some of the tips for increasing efficiency while studying:
1. Take notes of important concepts and highlight the keywords for future references.
2. Avoid distractions such as mobile phones, video games, etc.
3. Get your doubts cleared by your teachers.
4. Create acronyms for remembering concepts.
3. What is the secret of studying?
One of the main secrets of effective studies is testing yourself on what you have studied. It will help you remember concepts and understand where you are making mistakes and what necessary actions you can take regarding them.
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Conclusion
To conclude, feeling tired while studying is a very common thing among all of us. However, we should take necessary actions to come over from it and study productively. As discussed in this blog, the students can use these 15 remedial measures to enhance their learning. It will also help them obtain maximum marks in their examinations.
