Falling asleep during class is common for many students, no matter how old you are. Late night study sessions, a long shift at work, a boring teacher, or even a warm classroom can send you off to dreamland in no time. Thankfully, there are a few tactics you can use to keep yourself awake and energized throughout the day to avoid dozing during class.

1

Ask questions.

  1. Keep your brain engaged by talking to the teacher or your classmates. If you're confused about something, raise your hand and ask for clarification. If you have a comment to make, chat with the person next to you. It's tough to fall asleep in the middle of a conversation, so it's a great way to keep yourself awake.[1]
    • As the teacher speaks, take down notes and formulate questions about the material you're learning. If there's something you can't figure out, put up your hand and ask a question about it.
    • When the teacher poses questions to the class, don’t be afraid to put up your hand and provide an answer. Some teachers will put you on the spot for a while because of any noticeable inattentiveness.
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2

Stretch and move around in your chair.

  1. Even a little bit of movement can keep you awake during class. Shuffle your feet, stretch your arms, and move your hands around to keep yourself awake without being disruptive. If your teacher allows it, you could even stand up and walk around for a minute or two.[2]
    • If you feel you're nodding off, sit up straight and stretch. Move your head from side to side to make your neck limber, and gently twist sideways from the waist to stretch your back.
    • Kick your legs in front of your desk and stretch them out, and push your arms out in front of you to stretch them as well. Roll your feet in circles or trace the alphabet with your toe.
3

Fidget quietly while you listen.

  1. Keep your body active to prevent sleepiness from taking over. Tap your feet on the floor, pump your legs up and down, tap your fingers on the desk, twiddle your thumbs, or hold your pen in your fingers and twirl it around. Stay quiet with your movements so you don’t distract any other students.[3]
    • If fidgeting helps you focus, consider bringing a fidget spinner to class with you. This small toy can give you something to do with your hands while you focus on paying attention in class. Bring squishy fidgets if it is allowed. These help get out your urge to squeeze.
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4

Doodle on a blank page.

  1. Drawing silly pictures and random notes can actually help you focus. As you sit and listen during class, grab a pen and let your hand draw whatever it wants. Don’t expect an artistic masterpiece—most doodles look like random scribbles on the page. Still try to pay attention to school activities. [4]
    • If you aren’t sure what to doodle, start with abstract shapes. After that, your brain will probably take over so you can keep drawing without thinking about it.
    • Studies show that doodling can actually help improve your memory, too!
8

Get active after school.

  1. Burn off some energy so you can fall asleep later. Take a walk or run around the neighborhood, exercise, or head out for a quick snack once class is over. Staying away from screens and getting out after school will make it much easier to go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning. Do your best to not turn into a couch potato and stare at your phone once you’re done with class for the day. Jog for 15-30 minutes to get your energy out.[8]
    • If you can, try joining an after school sport or extracurricular that gets you outside for a little exercise.
10

Set up a dedicated workspace for remote learning.

11

Keep your webcam on in online class.

  1. It will let the teacher know that you’re awake and paying attention. If you’ve ever fallen asleep in the classroom, you may have had a teacher call you out. It was probably embarrassing, but it woke you up! Keeping your webcam on will let your teacher see your face. Not only will they wake you up if they see you snoozing, but you’ll be less likely to fall asleep knowing that they’re watching.[11]
    • If your teacher specifically requests that your class turns their camera off during breaks or independent work, follow their directions. These breaks are a good opportunity to get up and stretch or get a glass of ice water, which will also help to keep you up.
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12

Protect your sleep cycle with blue light glasses.

  1. Staring at a computer all day can really mess up your sleeping schedule. If you’re taking online classes, consider getting blue light glasses to protect your sleep cycle. Computer screens and phones emit blue light, which your brain interprets as a message to stay awake. Blue light glasses block this light, which should make it much easier to fall asleep at night after a long day of digital learning.[12]
    • You can buy a cheap pair of blue light glasses online for $10-20. Your parents will probably buy them for you if you tell them why you want them!
14

Get enough sleep every night.

  1. It can be tough, but it’s a great way to stay awake during the day. If you’re an older child or teenager, aim for getting at least 7-10 hours of sleep every night. If you’re younger than 10 years old, you might need closer to 9-11 hours of sleep every night.[14] Being tired during the day means you're more likely to fall asleep in class, so try to avoid it as much as possible.[15]
    • If you find you don't have time to get enough sleep because you're working too much, talk to your boss about taking fewer shifts. If you have too much homework, talk to your teachers about making more time for schoolwork during class time. If you're spending too much time with friends, restrict your social engagements to the weekends.
15

Go to bed around the same time every night.

  1. It will help you fall asleep and feel rested every night. The idea of having a bedtime may seem childish, but the routine can help you get a better night’s rest. Even on the weekends, try to go to bed around the same time to keep your sleep schedule intact. Depending on the person, sometimes waking up early can help improve sleep. [16]
    • If you are going to bed at the same time every night but still wake feeling tired, try moving your bed time ahead by an hour and see how the extra hour of sleep affects your daytime wakefulness.[17]
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Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    What are some things I can do to keep from falling asleep in class?
    Alex Dimitriu, MD
    Alex Dimitriu, MD
    Sleep Medicine & Psychiatry Professional
    Alex Dimitriu, MD is the Owner of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, a clinic based in the San Francisco Bay Area with expertise in psychiatry, sleep, and transformational therapy. Alex earned his Doctor of Medicine from Stony Brook University in 2005 and graduated from the Stanford University School of Medicine's Sleep Medicine Residency Program in 2010. Professionally, Alex has dual board certification in psychiatry and sleep medicine.
    Alex Dimitriu, MD
    Sleep Medicine & Psychiatry Professional
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Simple things like tapping your foot to a tune, squeezing a stress ball, or doodling can give your brain something to focus on and wake you back up. Just make sure whatever you do isn't distracting you from paying attention in class!
  • Question
    Why do I feel sleepy even though I sleep for 7 hours per day?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
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    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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    You might need more sleep. If you're a teenager, you should be getting around 10 hours of sleep per night. Young adults should aim for at least 8 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Everyone's different, so you can find the sleep schedule that works best for you.
  • Question
    How do you stop feeling sleepy while studying?
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    Try to study early in the day so you aren't forcing yourself to stay awake and study. Set up a dedicated study space (like a desk) so you don't have to sit in your bed. Take breaks when you need to and try drinking water to wake yourself up.
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Warnings

  • While drinking caffeine can help keep you awake in the short term, it’s very disruptive for your sleep cycle. Try to avoid drinking caffeine late in the day so you don’t impact your bedtime that night.[19]
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About This Article

Shahpar Mirza
Co-authored by:
Community Expert
This article was co-authored by Shahpar Mirza and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Shahpar Mirza is a Community Expert who received his BS in Product Design from Stanford University in 2019. Throughout his high school and college career, Shahpar has faced numerous instances where he dealt with sleepiness in educational settings. This article has been viewed 382,779 times.
53 votes - 56%
Co-authors: 33
Updated: March 20, 2023
Views: 382,779
Categories: School Discipline
Article SummaryX

If you want to stop sleeping in class, start by asking and answering questions to help you stay engaged and awake during the lesson. If you're starting to feel like you might doze off, get up to sharpen your pencil or ask to go to the bathroom and get a drink of water. Try stretching in your seat if you aren't able to get up, or quietly fidget with things on your desk, like pens, paper, and erasers to keep your mind occupied. If your teacher allows it, bring a bottle of water and a snack to class to keep your energy up! For tips on staying energized throughout the day and getting restful sleep, keep reading!

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