Koofers Blog

Keep Them Open

Anything from squirrels playing in trees outside your class window to thinking about your mixer tonight with your favorite sorority or fraternity can distract you from lectures.  So without the device used in clockwork orange to keep you focused, what else can you do to maintain your attention during even the most boring lectures?  You’ve tried copious amount of caffeine, those little energy shots boasting 5-8 hours of energy, and whatever else your roommate has suggested you try.  However, these attempts at stimulating the mind are unnecessary if you acquire enough sleep and eat a proper breakfast.  In fact, most energy drinks and shots are recognized through their brand rather than through their effects.

The truth is that these drinks have lots of B vitamins, tourine, and caffeine to stimulate you for a few hours at the most, where a good breakfast and maybe a cup of coffee at the most have much better results throughout the day.  Most energy drinks will stimulate you for a short time  but once the rush is over you will most likely fall apart.  This is known as crashing and is associated with caffeine primarily.  Anytime you rush your body into a state of stimulation it will naturally need a period of rest in order to recover from what you just put it through.  We simply aren’t made to withstand hours of caffeine.

What you can do is to sleep for more than 6-7 hours a night and eat a breakfast existing of more substance than just a bagel and cream cheese.  The reason most college students cannot focus is because they don’t sleep and eat well.  It really is that simple.  When you are lacking sleep one of the first things to go is your creativity and focus.  These are the two biggest things that learning your courses and expressing yourself intellectually is all about.

Furthermore, there are foods out there that will help you focus and stay awake in class better.  Fish consists heavily of protein and omega 3 fatty acids which both help with focus and retention of information.   If you combine fish your daily recommended sources of whole grains, blueberries, and legumes you are looking at having a 12 hour energy meal, instead of a 4 hour energy shot. Even if you are not a math major you will note that 12 > 4.