Hannah Jones/Winonan

Wake up! I raise my head and snap my eyes wide open, trying to look as alert as possible. I am in my midday math class, and this is about the eleventh time I have nearly nodded off.

That time, my nose had almost reached my desk, which would have been a rude, painful awakening, and probably not good for the morale of the man up in the front of the room trying to teach me and my classmates about Excel formulas. I settle into a new position in my chair, pinching myself and trying desperately to stay awake.

Only a day into the new semester, and I know something has to give.

Over winter break, I could stay up all night watching reruns of Friends and making frozen chocolate-covered bananas all I wanted, knowing I usually had plenty of time to lounge, doze, and recuperate the next day.

Then, when I nodded off, I only missed the Dish of the Day on The Chew. After I came back, when I nodded off, I missed any chance I had at answering a question intelligently. Not that chances were that high in the first place.

The fact is, many of us are dragging our feet after coming back from winter break.

Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s the lack of sunlight, or maybe it’s the winter flu and cold bugs weighing us down, but countless students complain of falling asleep in class in these first few weeks. Who can blame us when those lecture halls are so dim, quiet, and cozy?

No. Stay awake. He’s talking about filters. What in the name of Giada de Laurentiis is a FILTER? Mmm. I could use some coffee…

Whatever the reason, the environment of the classroom or the physical adjustment of coming back, nodding off in class is not impossible to avoid. The best preventative technique is, of course, sleep, but let’s face it—we’re back at school.

We’re not going to sleep until March. Although they’re not foolproof, I find that these methods help give me a fighting chance against the sandman.

1.Choose your caffeine wisely

Full-strength coffee or energy drinks are common standbys for those who need an extra dash of pep in their step. However, the dosages of caffeine and sugar involved with many of those beverages tend to induce jitters and dependency, and may not make them the best for a daily wake-up call. Half-caffeinated is always an option for those willing to cut down, but sometimes just picking the right caffeine source can make a kinder, gentler difference.

Green tea, for example, can raise the body’s energy level more gradually than the standard coffee rush, and let it down much more smoothly. Another way to get your caffeine: a piece or two of dark chocolate. Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate bars have 20 mg of caffeine in every ounce and a half, and also contain an added perk in antioxidants.

Chocolate is still chocolate, however, so be careful not to binge and fall off the New Year’s Resolution wagon.

2. Doodle

This is a simple technique that, for me, works every time. When I feel myself slipping during lecture, I simply start drawing a picture in a corner of my notes. The task keeps my brain relaxed but stimulated, allowing me to concentrate a bit better on what the teacher is saying and avoid letting the lesson wash over me and lull me to sleep.

Of course, there is a risk of becoming so invested in your doodle that you forget the world around you, and that’s just as bad as sleep. To counteract this, glance up every once in a while. This also lets the teacher know that you’re listening and not just making the coolest picture of a stegosaurus playing electric guitar ever.

3. Drink lots of water

I’m sure there are some energy health benefits to upping water intake, but that’s not the reason I suggest drinking more on class days. It’s a little embarrassing, but sometimes, when you’re sitting in class and your head is about to hit the edge of your desk, you need a physical jog, some kind of a nudge to get you off the track to dreamland—a sort of bodily alarm clock, if you will.

For me, the quickest, easiest alarm to induce is the bladder. Drink more, and you’ll eventually have to get up and go to the bathroom, reminding your body not to fall asleep and perhaps saving you from going into a REM cycle in the middle of math class. Give me all the weird looks you want; it works. Try it, and you’ll see.

Back to school and back in the saddle, it’ll take us all a week or two more to fully adjust to the rigor and the tight sleep schedule. In the meantime, these little tips may help you avoid the embarrassment of an impromptu nap, as long as your friends don’t ask you why you’re in the bathroom so often. Welcome back to school; if we can stay awake for it, it’s going to be a great semester.

Contact Hannah at [email protected]