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Discussion

Caffeine Pills

here's a question: to all my nursing students... many of you study for about 3-5 hrs. per night (if not more!), many of you have jobs.... many of you have children and husbands (and lives!) and yet you manage to balance all (or at least most!) of that together and still make it through ns, some with flying colors!!

so my question to you all is... how do you do it??!! when you have had a long day at school, after having been up all night at work prior, and you get home and deal with the needs of your family.. how do you stay awake to do all the studying that inevitably follows?

does anyone take caffeine pills or are they bad for you? (sorry haven't started yet). i detest coffee and soda rots your teeth so... its either that or depend on sheer motivation!!

thanks!

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I don't care for caffeine pills... as for caffeinated beverages, I've been drinking yerba mate - gives you the energy of coffee, no coffee "crash", plus the healthy benefits of green tea and chocolate (and then some). It's an acquired taste, but I love it. It's made from dried leaves of a South American holly tree of sorts. I buy it loose leaf (by the kilo ;) ) and use a bombilla (straw with a filter on the end) to filter out the leaves and stems.

And, you can re-infuse it with fresh water (hot or cold) several times to keep getting benefits. I fill a 24-26 oz sports bottle with a few tablespoons and water before school, and keep refilling it - it lasts until evening...and for whatever reason, it doesn't seem to disturb sleep like coffee or pills might. But, that's just me, ymmv.

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    • Experts

    I woudn't take caffeine pills and if I drink coffee or coke at night I can't sleep and to me sleep was just as important as studying. What I did was take a break from school when I first got home in the afternoon, did chores, ate dinner etc. Early evening I would hit the books, mostly making note cards, for like 2 hours while I sort of watched/listened to my taped soap operas which kind of broke things up. When it got to the point where my eyeballs were closing I called it a night and went to bed. That worked for for me. Good luck.

    • Experts

    I used to do short naps and used an alarm clock to help.

    I know this sounds stupid, but an apple when you wake up and a room temp water is perfect for getting your energy up. The water makes your digestive system get going, and an apple works better than coffee to wake you up.

    I don't have a support system at all, just my 2 kids. At some point you just have to accept that it's really difficult sometimes and there will be days when you just want to walk away.

    But once you get to the other side, it's worth it as trite as that sounds.

    The worst thing you can do is eat crap like McDonalds..that'll wear you out super quick and make you want to go to sleep. Just take care of yourself as best you can and try not to rely on stimulants.

    Make sure your getting quality depth of sleep too not just quantity

    Sigh, I'm a full time working student and never have time to sleep. I admit that I'll take NoDoze- only when I work my Baylor nights, and half a pill is usually enough to keep me feeling alert and it does seem to help me focus when I'm getting a bit of studying done in the middle of the night. It has as much caffeine as coffee(so says the bottle) But it really isn't a good habit to start so I don't recommend it.

    I never take pills, but will have a Coke Classic if it's before 5pm (I'm a pm student). Any later and I can't wind down to sleep. I drink tons of water especially when I'm feeling tired. It seems to help. I did get into a rut for a few months last year when I would grab a candy bar. Don't do that! The come down was just as bad as coffee! :D

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