1. Hit the gym.
Going to the gym every day can give you the adrenaline boost you need to keep your eyes open for the rest of the day. Plus, it'll give you a sense of accomplishment - even if you forgot to turn in an assignment or bombed your exam, at least you can say you did a mile on the treadmill.
2. Drink coffee.
This is obvious. Don't drink it after four, though, because you'll never fall asleep.
3. Try to avoid wearing sweatpants.
Dressing nicer is unfortunately way less comfortable than dressing like you just rolled out of bed. But this is also a good thing because you won't feel like you're wrapped up in a fluffy blanket and fall asleep.
4. Listen to energizing music as you walk.
Eminem, Dr. Dre, even Adele - find the artist that makes you walk with a little more spring in your step. There's a big difference between slumping over to lecture with Lana Del Rey crooning into your ears than swaggering in listening to Lil Tecca.
5. Give yourself time to nap when you really need it.
If you got a bad sleep the night before or are feeling under the weather, listen to your body. If you really need more sleep, you should try to find time to get it. This is probably pretty difficult to fit into the average student's schedule, but even if you just have an hour between classes, take advantage of some down time. It'll clear your head a bit for the rest of the day.
6. Find people to goof with in your classes.
It's so much easier to be engaged in class when you're with your friends. If someone's next to you muttering roasts under their breath or nudging you every time the professor mispronounces something, chances are you won't fall asleep.
7. Have meals with your friends.
Keeping yourself social throughout the day is a huge help in maintaining energy. If you keep to yourself for hours on end - whether you trap yourself at a desk in the corner of the library or just sit alone at the dining hall with your headphones in, being alone is going to make you more aware of how heavy your eyelids feel.
8. Keep a bottle of rose water on you.
If you catch yourself slipping, splashing really cold water on your face can help. But rose water is refreshing AND smells nice, plus it doesn't require you to find a sink. Just spritz yourself wherever you are and continue on with your day.
9. Drink a lot of water.
I mean, probably. Nobody ever stops talking about how important it is to drink water, so I felt like I had to include this. It does make you feel a lot better when you're hydrated. And if you're not willing to drink more water to stay awake, drink more water to clear your skin, flush out your system, or even just to give yourself something to do in your most boring class.
10. Try to get into a regular sleeping schedule.
It can be really hard in college to go to bed around the same time very night, and even harder to get up around the same time every morning. But the more you define a sleep schedule for yourself, the more you'll find your body getting tired later - and around that time - each night. Plus, it'll help you not need to set fifteen alarms for fear of sleeping through them every morning.
