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[vikasarkalgud]

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[Natasha.97]

So I tried a coffee this morning (rarely have it) in the hope that it 'keeps me awake' during the day and I can be more productive. I have no idea how caffeine works or if this would shape out to be a bad habit in year 12. Is artificially trying to stay awake a bad idea during the HSC year?

Hi!

Try working out in the morning! Yes, it sounds counterintuitive, but that is what kept me awake throughout a normal school day I would start nodding off at around 11 even if I had 8hrs sleep the night before definitely do not pull any all-nighters, you’ll be really groggy throughout the day and you’ll have to catch up an entire day’s worth of work :3

[brenden]

If you don’t already consume caffeine, I wouldn’t bother starting. Once you start buying coffee, it won’t stop. I reckon I’ve saved thousands of dollars between high-school and now by not drinking coffee, based on the purchasing habits of my peers hahaha.

Jess is spot on:

1. Exercise
2. Drink more water.
3. Sleep a REGULAR routine.
4. Get adequate nutrition.

You’ll feel awake asf until it’s time to sleep, and then your body will do its thing!

[K888]

+1 to what Brenden (and Jess) said!

Exercise is great for waking you up - even if it's just some quick star jumps, push ups and sit ups to get your heart rate up.

If you feel ridiculously tired all the time and you're getting enough sleep, etc. though, maybe go to your GP for a check-up.

[owidjaja]

So I tried a coffee this morning (rarely have it) in the hope that it 'keeps me awake' during the day and I can be more productive. I have no idea how caffeine works or if this would shape out to be a bad habit in year 12. Is artificially trying to stay awake a bad idea during the HSC year?

Hey!
If you've decided to use coffee to keep you awake, be careful with how strong your coffee is. I bought coffee before attending lectures and I kinda regret it because I couldn't stop shaking (accidentally mistaken my '8' for a '6') and I had to go to the bathroom constantly. However, I have seen some articles how tea is better for studying than coffee because it helps memorisation and mental alertness. here's the link if you wanna check it out.

[FighForADFA2018]

This is weird but try putting a towel and icepack on your neck, it helps me

[Razeen25]

I’m suffering from this problem too. It’s a hard one to deal with tbh, as when I come home, rather than study I have the overwhelming urge to just sleep. In fact I just woke up from a nap rn (rip). I think trying to sleep earlier every night is the best way to get over this but yet I’m awake at hours into the morning every night (

[jamonwindeyer]

I’m suffering from this problem too. It’s a hard one to deal with tbh, as when I come home, rather than study I have the overwhelming urge to just sleep. In fact I just woke up from a nap rn (rip). I think trying to sleep earlier every night is the best way to get over this but yet I’m awake at hours into the morning every night (

You've probably gotten yourself into a nasty cycle, where you nap when you get home because you were up late, and that means you're up late because you napped!

Have you tried doing something to try and energise yourself when you get home - Go for a walk maybe?

[slothpomba]

It's not a bad habit really. A decent (majority?) chunk of the adult world consumes caffeine on a daily basis. You could argue its the most commonly consumed drug or psychoactive substance in the world. Tea is the second most popular drink in the world after water (coffee is probably third).

Psychological research has shown caffeine is only somewhat useful. It helps some kinds of memory and tasks but it can actually potentially reduce performance in others. There is a tiny amount of debate over whether caffeine is helpful for *everyone* or its more helpful for those who are already used to having it. If it's the second case, the effect of caffeine is more to stave off the withdrawal symptoms rather than actually necessarily helping.

Caffeine is not a miracle drug either. It is not a replacement for sleep. If you haven't slept all night, you will still feel tired, even with a couple cups of strong coffee or energy drinks (i've been there so many times). You may feel less tired but you will still definitely not be 100% at all. I've even tried this with massive amounts of caffeine (300-500mg, which is at least 3-5 cups of coffee if not more), i still felt tired. This comes with the added downside of having trouble sleeping that night (caffeine takes up to 8 hours just to *half* in concentration in your blood).

Also note some people may get (mild) side-effects like a racing heart, sweating, anxiety, etc. It can also be quite bad for your stomach (especially in sustained heavy use, mostly in already susceptible people) and can damage the lining of your stomach or cause acid reflux and heart burn.

All that said, i still think its amazing and i pickle myself in it every day. It won't solve all your problems, it wont make you a superhero, your best bet is having a well organised schedule that also allows you time to sleep, rather than having a crap, messy schedule that you try drug your way around.

[The Special One]

@above^

Well it's true it has side effects like  insomnia, nervousness and restlessness, stomach irritation, nausea and vomiting, increased heart rate and respiration, and other side effects.

My main concern  is that caffeine is indeed addicting and people can experience withdrawal symptoms. I'm  going to copy and paste some information about caffeine addiction below for anyone interested

Studies have demonstrated that people who take in a minimum of 100 mg of caffeine per day (about the amount in one cup of coffee) can acquire a physical dependence that would trigger withdrawal symptoms that include headaches, muscle pain and stiffness, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, depressed mood, and marked irritability.[3] Professor Roland Griffiths, a professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore strongly believes that caffeine withdrawal should be classified as a psychological disorder.[3] His research suggested that withdrawals began within 12–24 hours after stopping caffeine intake and could last as long as nine days.[4] Continued exposure to caffeine will lead the body to create more adenosine receptors in the central nervous system which makes it more sensitive to the effects of adenosine in two ways. Firstly, it will reduce the stimulatory effects of caffeine by increasing tolerance. Secondly, it will increase the withdrawal symptoms of caffeine as the body will be more sensitive to the effects of adenosine once caffeine intake stops. Caffeine tolerance develops very quickly. Tolerance to the sleep disruption effects of caffeine were seen after consumption of 400 mg of caffeine 3 times a day for 7 days, whereas complete tolerance was observed after consumption of 300 mg taken 3 times a day for 18 days.[5]

[MAGGOT]

If you don’t already consume caffeine, I wouldn’t bother starting. Once you start buying coffee, it won’t stop. I reckon I’ve saved thousands of dollars between high-school and now by not drinking coffee, based on the purchasing habits of my peers hahaha.

Jess is spot on:

1. Exercise
2. Drink more water.
3. Sleep a REGULAR routine.
4. Get adequate nutrition.

You’ll feel awake asf until it’s time to sleep, and then your body will do its thing!

This is the bloody way to go, I find that exercise in the morning will prevent you from falling asleep in class too. The only negatives is waking up early but I mean this is just prep for uni

[TylerD9]

Don't drink coffee. I spend $15 dollars a week buying Iced Coffee, sometimes more. It is a bad habit. One here and there is okay, but don't allow yourself to get addicted.

[MAGGOT]

Don't drink coffee. I spend $15 dollars a week buying Iced Coffee, sometimes more. It is a bad habit. One here and there is okay, but don't allow yourself to get addicted.

especially processed coffee, it's not that healthy as well

[Razeen25]

You've probably gotten yourself into a nasty cycle, where you nap when you get home because you were up late, and that means you're up late because you napped!

Have you tried doing something to try and energise yourself when you get home - Go for a walk maybe?

You’re right!! I need to energise when I come back home from school. No naps. Sleeping early. Productive full days.
My goals^^ : ).

[aneesha.dean]

So I tried a coffee this morning (rarely have it) in the hope that it 'keeps me awake' during the day and I can be more productive. I have no idea how caffeine works or if this would shape out to be a bad habit in year 12. Is artificially trying to stay awake a bad idea during the HSC year?

Hey im in year 12 too and i think that starting a coffee habit now is probably not as beneficial as it may seem. Maybe try drinking normal caffeinated tea in the mornings but switch back to decaffeinated herbal and fruit teas in the afternoon/evening so that the caffeine doesnt impact your sleep for the night!

And definetly dont pull any all nighters, try go to sleep before 10:30pm if you can and then wake up in the morning and do 4 minutes of HIIT exercise with any fun body weight exercises that you may enjoy like mountain climbers or high knees (50 sec work, 10 sec rest ×4)

Try and eat complex carbs so they can help you maintain a constant level of energy throughout the time in between meals. Dont eat too many simple carbs like white bread or pasta as they aren't beneficial towards a sustainable diet that will keep you full. Instead, consume foods such as wholemeal breads and pasta. Also try to incorporate lots of protein into your diet so that it helps with your daily bodily functions and muscle development. Ahaha just keep everything in moderation!

I usually just drink coffee on the morning of exams so i am extra alert ahahaha but other than that i dont drink coffee too often