7 Tips To Avoid Sleepiness While Studying | Buddhism In English

Many students, including myself, struggle with feeling sleepy while studying. This issue is widespread and affects concentration and productivity. Interestingly, a similar problem was faced by a monk during the Buddhist era who struggled to stay awake during meditation. The Buddha provided seven tips to combat sleepiness which can also be applied to modern-day studying.

Change the Perception further Ado let's dive into these tips tip number one change the perception sometimes the reason for our sleepiness is not where we study or when we study but what we study right sometimes the meditation that we are doing maybe the study of a subject that we're studying is not aligning with our mind at that time, and it feels boring and less interesting. Once you feel bored, your normal reaction from your body is to feel sleepy; you experience drowsiness within yourself. That’s why Buddha says to change perception: once you start feeling sleepy while studying or meditating, just shift what you're focusing on temporarily. If you're finding a particular subject dull, switch to something more engaging—perhaps another topic that's fun or enjoyable for you—and this will make both your body and mind active again.

Memorize because and that time we gave our mind a little jump start to be active tip number two memorize it the Buddha says recall what you have studied and memorize it and examine it with your mind when you examine something with your mind when you recall something from your mind and you wisely reflect on it what happens is that your mind becomes active. You need focus and activeness in order to memorize effectively, which helps prevent an inactive state of the brain. Memorizing keeps sleepiness at bay; whenever feeling drowsy, recalling or memorizing learned information can help maintain alertness.

Reciting is an effective method to combat sleepiness during meditation and studying. Speaking out loud activates the jaw muscles, mouth, and creates vibrations in the skull that stimulate the brain. This activation generates energy within your head, making it easier to stay alert and focused.

Pinching your ears and rubbing your limbs can help you stay awake. This technique promotes blood circulation, making both the body and mind more active. As a result, it reduces sleepiness effectively.

To combat sleepiness, the Buddha advises getting up from your seat and washing your eyes with cold water. If you're studying or meditating at night and feel drowsy, go outside to look at the night sky and enjoy nature's breeze. Spending a little time in nature refreshes you, allowing you to return to your activities rejuvenated.

To combat sleepiness while studying at night, focus on the perception of light. Darkness can trigger drowsiness because it mimics nighttime conditions when we usually sleep. The Buddha advises to study under a good light source and imagine it's daytime, which helps reduce feelings of tiredness.

The Buddha advises practicing walking meditation to combat sleepiness during study or meditation. By focusing on bodily movements and postures while walking back and forth, one can activate both body and mind, enhancing mindfulness. If all seven tips fail to alleviate drowsiness, it indicates a genuine need for rest; thus, mindful sleeping is recommended with an intention of waking up at a specific time. Prioritizing studying over the desire to sleep helps maintain focus.