Any ideas on how to stay awake???

memphispanda, RN · Aug 28, 2003

Try studying first thing in the morning instead of last thing at night, that could help. Or you could let the other stuff go until the weekend or something. Studying needs to take priority, clutter and stuff can wait.

Try using more disposable dishes, that helps cut down on the clean-up time after eating.

If you have kids, put them to work! Unless they are really young, they can do something to help...even my four year old puts his dishes away and helps clean up.

If you can't record your lectures, read them into a tape recorder and listen to them while you fold clothes, drive, cook, etc.

iliel · Aug 28, 2003

Turn on lights and keep the place cool!

kimtab · Aug 28, 2003

Cool temps, take a walk outside or if it's too hot to go out as it is down here then do some sort of exercise indoors and you can usually get a little more mileage. Break it up with different tasks. Instead of doing all your housework before you study, study for an hour- then do the dishes, then study for another hour, then put the laundry in. That helps me- I have the same problem.

They should get surgical patients to read Nursing textbooks and they wouldn't need gas anesthetics to put them out.

agent · Aug 28, 2003

exercise, take a late cool shower then drink some tea

SirJohnny · Aug 28, 2003

BSNin05:

- I put on music (instrumental) - doesn't matter if it's country or pipe organ. Idea is to increase concentration level to where you just ignore the music. That will keep you awake.

- Study at Barnes & Nobles or Subway or other eatery or bookstore.

- Ride the bike at gym for 30 min then hit the books --- don't even shower -- just go from bike to books. You can shower when you get tired.

- Look at webcams while on the Internet. I watch trains and planes. If a train comes by - that means break times.

- BTW/ Train traffic is highest on Fri/Sat/Sun and lowest on Mon/Tue. Conrail traffic is down 60% on Mondays. Bet you never expected to read that on a nursing forum.

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John Coxey

boopchick · Aug 28, 2003

Try to make studying your first priority. The housework can wait. My housework has definitely taken a hit since I went back to school but I would rather have good grades than an immaculate house. Taking a shower really refreshes me. Also I make a point of not studying in an area that is "too comfy". Good luck!!! :)

Berta · Aug 28, 2003

I apologize ahead of time for a long detail post, but I hope this gives you some ideas...

Here's what works for me. I really require 8 hours sleep so that is actually a priority for me over studying. Also, I cannot study in big chunks. My brain refuses to absorb anything after 1/2 hour to 45 mins, so I have to break it up in chunks. Plus, I am a person who has to get a minimum of 8 hours sleep or I don't function. Lastly, I have 2 kids, ages 3 and 8. Once they are awake, I can forget about studying.

So, here is a sample of my study time...up at 6am put away dishes from dishwasher( load started before I went to bed). Toss in load laundry in washer. Study while load washes. When washer ends, start breakfast and pack lunches for the day, toss wet stuff in dryer. Eat breakfast and study at same time. 7ish get self and kids dressed fed and off to school by 8. Head over to school arriving 1/2hr early. Study in classroom till class begins. After class, I have built in 2 hours to stay at school till I have to pick up the kids. I eat my lunch then study for a bit, take break then study again. Leave school, pick up 3 y/o, then pick up 8 yr at school. I study in the car while waiting for her to be dismissed. Then I head home do house chores till 4 then make supper. I do stuff with the kids and house stuff till they go to bed at 7. (I am very firm on bedtime for them) From 7 to 8 I finish any house chores and start dishwasher. If a bit of housework doesn't get done during that time, it becomes a priority for the next days chores. Then I study from 8-9 stopping once for a break. Then bed by 9.

I also retype all my notes on the computer and print them out so I can take them with me and study when I get a free moment.

Hope this helps, berta

Once in a blue moon, I can catch a quick 15min nap while my 3 year old watches tv. I find that helps too.

NYCNURSE · Aug 28, 2003

Why are house chores being done before the studying and must the house work be done every single day? Something has to give here.

kahumai, RN · Aug 29, 2003

Berta, very helpful, but where on earth do you find time to type up your notes?!? I'll most likely end up doing that, but I don't have any kids to attend to. I don't know how you do it!

Cleaning the house is never a priority on my list, but when you have no clean socks, you kind of have to do the laundry. Fortunately, the boyfriend I live with is very understanding that school is first and helps out when he can. I try to do a little each day, but it always comes down to the fact that whenever I have to study, I get sleepy. Maybe it's a form of procrastination (which I also have an extremly large problem with!), so that instead of doing homework, my mind is telling me to take a nap. Granted, this is my first week of nursing school, so this may take awhile to fine-tune. The problem is that I don't even remotely have the same schedule every day, so my sleep/eating patterns have been totally off. Thanks to everybody whose posted so far...

A friend also told me today that if you get tired, change your socks and shirt and wash your hands and face. You'll apparently wake right up. Hmmm....I'll have to try that one!

TeresaRN2b · Aug 29, 2003

Ok, here's what I suggest. Sorry, but giving up sleep isn't real helpful for me. I am an auditory learner so I really need to be well rested to absorb my lectures. Here's some of the things I am trying. I have followed some of the above suggestions as far as paper plates, and disposable items. I have 5 kids so laundry has to be done once a day and dishes have to be done once a day (whether I am actually the one to do it or not is another story). I froze up a bunch of meals before school started and that has saved me. I plan to freeze some up on the weekends so I can keep my sanity during the week.

Now, as far as studying goes. I am trying to put as much on cassette tape as I can so I can study while I am cleaning. You know play the tape and clean at the same time. Study while I am driving. Study while I am taking a bath, lol. You get the point. I am really trying to be more efficient in everything I do. I play catch up on the weekends. I also am torturing my family by making them quiz me while I do things to (like in the car). Um, that's all I can think of at the moment. Just try to find ways to use the time that you have more effectively.

Teresa

Dublin37 · Aug 29, 2003

Wow, these all such great ideas! Although Berta scared the holy crud out of me! I am soooooooooooooo not a planned type of person, and having every minute so planned makes me break out in hives!! :uhoh21: ! I know I am going to HAVE to get more structured those 2 yrs, but I really like the idea of using disposable dishes, heck, it's only for 2 years! My dh usu does the laundry, I can probably keep up the kitchen and LR. It's making the dinner........ick, I need a dinner fairy like Kelly Rippa! :lol2:

Heather