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Falling asleep in class

C

Canai

Diamond Member
Ok so I just finished with a class that I always, invariably, fall asleep in. It doesn't matter how much sleep I got the previous night, how tired I am, or if I drink shaitloads of caffeine before class. About halfway thru the class my eyelids get heavy and I have supreme trouble staying awake. It's a subject I enjoy (science) and it's in one of those big tiered lecture rooms, but I sit right in front. And as soon as I leave the class I feel wide awake again. I have this problem with only one of my other classes, one that is in a similar room, but none of the classes that are in a non-lecture hall type room.

So I guess my question is, is there something else that I could be overlooking that is making me tired? Something in the air? The hard plastic seats that make my butt fall asleep? Maybe the sleep in my butt transfers to my head???
 
i am sure it is because you are bored.
If you are not into something, your mind loses interest and you start feeling tired because you are not stimulated at all.
 
I used to have a class like that, I'm not sure if it was the boring professor or what, but invariably I just couldn't stay awake. Although I didn't have the advantage of getting girls to do stuff for me under the desk... hehehe
 
Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Do you eat any carb/sugar based foods/drinks a few hours before said class?
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Hmm not a large amount, just a can of cream soda and a sandwich usually. Sometimes some cheese too. Thats about an hour and 15 mins before the class starts.
 
I don't think I've ever been awake for the full 45 minutes of my 10:00am class haha. I get that way with all the classes in lecture halls too. I think it's something related with how you feel "insignificant," so to speak, in large classes. That is, less focused attention, no means of participation...
 
I used to get the way with ALL of my classes. It got to a point where I would go to class just to sleep. What's the point? Exactly... I eventually stopped going. I miss the good old college days.
 
I used to have that problem a lot as well. I've done some experimenting, and it looks like when I start feeling tired in a class (or in the office at work), I'll sit up in my chair to make sure my back is as straight up as possible. For some reason when I do this, I'm wide awake again and I don't feel like going back to sleep. Give that a shot.
 
Originally posted by: SViper
I used to have that problem a lot as well. I've done some experimenting, and it looks like when I start feeling tired in a class (or in the office at work), I'll sit up in my chair to make sure my back is as straight up as possible. For some reason when I do this, I'm wide awake again and I don't feel like going back to sleep. Give that a shot.
Click to expand...


Good idea I'll give it a try tomorrow and let you know how it goes.
 
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
body cycle? sleepy time in the afternoon is natural or something.
Click to expand...


I sleep till 9am or so, so I suppose I have somewhat of an abnormal cycle?
 
Originally posted by: Canai
Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Do you eat any carb/sugar based foods/drinks a few hours before said class?
Click to expand...


Hmm not a large amount, just a can of cream soda and a sandwich usually. Sometimes some cheese too. Thats about an hour and 15 mins before the class starts.
Click to expand...

Try skipping the carbs/sugar and drink water and (insert food without carbs/sugar here) instead and see what happens.
 
classes were my achilles heel in terms of sleep. after back-to-back all nighters, i could stay awake while reading, talking, watching a movie, coding, gaming, just about anything (all w/o caffeine). however, as soon as i got to class and the prof started talking, almost regardless of the professor/subject, my eyes woudl grow heavy and BOOM, i'd be asleep. i dunno why it was classes, but my guess is that your brain becomes fairly passive - therefore more easily giving in to tiredness - when all you're doing is listening and taking notes.
 
Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Originally posted by: Canai
Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Do you eat any carb/sugar based foods/drinks a few hours before said class?
Click to expand...


Hmm not a large amount, just a can of cream soda and a sandwich usually. Sometimes some cheese too. Thats about an hour and 15 mins before the class starts.
Click to expand...

Try skipping the carbs/sugar and drink water and (insert food without carbs/sugar here) instead and see what happens.
Click to expand...


Alright I'll give that a shot too.
 
It isn't a pretty solution; but judicious application of pain can keep you awake in a pinch. Biting your tongue/lips/cheeks, stabbing yourself with a pencil, digging your fingernails into you palm, stepping on your own toes(shoes permitting), etc. can be very useful. It is pretty easy to pull off any of these without being detected, and it'll give you a little jolt.
 
I had the same problem in a class my freshman year, it was right after lunch, and I fell asleep in it ALL the time no matter how much i had slept before. IT was also the only college class I've ever had where attendance was required, and the stupid TA who was teaching the class counted me gone for like 6 classes even though I did not miss one all semester, I just fell asleep. It really sucked, cause the TA just assumed I was a lazy sh|T who didn't care, and kept giving me bad grades on everything. I went to him to explain that I really did care and had no clue why I was falling asleep, but I think that just pissed him off more. I tried caffeine, that didn't work at all, i tried pain, but then the bastard went and got mad at me cause i kept banging my head on the wall so stay awake (apparently this is also proving I am lazy). Eventually it just got to the point where I figured if he was gonna hate me anyways I might as well get something out of it, so I would just insult all his opinions on th books we were reading and stuff.
 
Try chewing gum while in class. If you're actively doing something then you won't fall asleep.

Otherwise, just sit in the upper back row so you can sleep in peace without the rest of the class looking and laughing at you.
 
I think the worst are powerpoint classes -- when I know that I can get 90% of the material at a later date, its like bam, I'm out

If I'm not taking notes I fall asleep too..the worst are the afternoon classes

 
Originally posted by: Canai
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
body cycle? sleepy time in the afternoon is natural or something.
Click to expand...
I sleep till 9am or so, so I suppose I have somewhat of an abnormal cycle?
Click to expand...
Consistent and regular sleep is more is more important. Try going to bed and waking up at about the same time every day. I know that's basically impossible in college, but it makes a huge difference during the day when you're awake. Honestly, I couldn't do that when I was in school. I just slept in class. 😉
 
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