How Do You Do It?

Preemie2RN · Dec 16, 2008

Energy centering hypnotherapy and exercise gives a boost of energy, plus some coffee here and there helps too!

86toronado, BSN, RN · Dec 16, 2008

I don't drink coffee... but green tea and diet pepsi are great sources of caffeine. Also, working out helps get your blood flowing - I try to run for 30 minutes a couple hours before I need to be at my most alert (ie: before work or class) but those 0645 clinicals kill me, 'cause there's no way I'm getting up that early!

lovehospital · Dec 16, 2008

allnurses.com LOL

caliotter3 · Dec 16, 2008

Years ago I started my addiction to soda with plenty of caffeine and loads of sugar. A very bad habit that I am paying for now. I also will get up and walk around, stick my head out a window, splash water on my face, etc. when I'm trying to stay awake. Only occasionally will drink coffee instead of Coke. As previously stated, you are better off to avoid marathons by getting into the habit of proper, consistent study throughout the semester instead of doing it all at the end.

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Dec 16, 2008

this is what i do:

I will set everyrhing that i need to study, then i will grab a bag of baby carrots or something like that, to keep chewing (it helps me stay awake) and i will drink a 5 hour energy

i do not drink the whole bottle at once, otherwise I will get jittery!!! what i do is, i will have 1 cup of cofee, then will drink half of the bottle of extreme energy, than after 1 hour, i will, get up walk around... so i can refresh my brain... have another cup of cofee, and get going for another hour. then i will walk around... and then i will finish the bottle .!!!

dividing the dose like that, helps me keep awake! and the coffee gives me a bump ()just as a reminder, i have to do that because my days are already very long! and that is the only way that i can do that! and then drive to school, which takes another hour!

intensity_too · Dec 16, 2008

I live on Diet Mountain Dew, and lots of it!!

I am also a lover of a well placed nap. My naps are usually a couple hours long, but they help so much. A lot of times I'll go to bed at a decent hour and wake up 2-3 hours before I have to be to clinical to finish my paper work (medication lists, care plans, ect.)

missjennmb · Dec 16, 2008

I've tried all sorts of things, but what helps me more than anything is sleep. Not getting enough sleep really screws up my deductive reasoning ability and I reach a point where no amount of studying is going to sink in because I'm tired. Coffee in more than the most spare amounts makes me VERY sick and I could get an IV of Diet Mt Dew and still pass out just as quickly (i've been drinking it for too long I think)

I like taking a long nap (about 1-3 hrs.. no alarm clock) and then getting to bed on time, which usually has me waking up an hour or two earlier than usual (like 5am w/ no alarm clock) and thats the best time for me to study. I did all of my studying for my math calc test this way, and I got a 100% on it.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 16, 2008

Study every day, even if some days it's only for a few minutes. That way you won't need marathon study sessions for tests...you may still have them, but at least they'll be more review and less "let's try to learn several weeks' of material from scratch in 12 hours". And during those marathons, coffee is good, but 2 cups max or I'm jittery.

Also, study early in the day, even if it means you have to rearrange your schedule or do things to accomodate it. I've learned--the hard way, of course :)--that waiting until 10 PM to crack open a book for the first time that day is asking for trouble. Have the marathon study session earlier in the day, so you can get enough sleep for the next day.

rubystar · Dec 16, 2008

You don't want to sleep deprive yourself, it's a waste of time trying to study when you're very tired, none of it really sinks in. Do your book learning when you're more awake and when you're starting to get sleepy but know you have to study something somehow, do the interactive quiz things that come with the books because it's less tiring than trying to cram heaps of information.

I generally don't drink lots of coffee so when I need it, it works for me.

wlb06 · Dec 16, 2008

this is what i do:
I will set everyrhing that i need to study, then i will grab a bag of baby carrots or something like that, to keep chewing (it helps me stay awake) and i will drink a 5 hour energy
i do not drink the whole bottle at once, otherwise I will get jittery!!! what i do is, i will have 1 cup of cofee, then will drink half of the bottle of extreme energy, than after 1 hour, i will, get up walk around... so i can refresh my brain... have another cup of cofee, and get going for another hour. then i will walk around... and then i will finish the bottle .!!!
dividing the dose like that, helps me keep awake! and the coffee gives me a bump ()just as a reminder, i have to do that because my days are already very long! and that is the only way that i can do that! and then drive to school, which takes another hour!

wow careful with all that caffeine man

IvyIV · Dec 17, 2008

AVOID ALL-NIGHTERS

if i drink coffee after 8pm I ALWAYS regret it...I will just lay in bed and my heart pounding out of my chest with the occasional PVC and worst of all waste 2 precious hours of sleep...

i'd rather wake up and study(and drink a nice half caf/decaf)..I find that between the hours of 6am-10am I can really focus, and it's nice and peaceful!

whiteoleander5 · Dec 17, 2008

Power Naps!!
No less than 20 - no more than 30 ... just enough to refresh ya!

This wouldnt help me... When I take a nap, that means I am passed out for a good 2 hours:clown:... Power napping for 20-30 minutes would make me wake up and be more exhausted than when I fell asleep haha.