Suddenly, all those questions about whether Beyoncé’s pregnant body will ever return to its pre-pregnancy size pop into your head. You’re so tired! Your eyes are droopy; you yawn uncontrollably; you haven’t had enough sleep because you were up late last night watching Netflix with your roommate and then spent hours editing photos on Instagram this morning. How did we go from being teenagers who couldn’t stop talking (or texting) to being exhausted college students?

Maybe it was always hard work and self discipline, but now our lives have become such hectic messes that there aren’t any set boundaries anymore. We may feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done, but the truth is actually quite different. Most of us could use some structure. If you find yourself constantly feeling overwhelmed by the amount of things you need to do each day, here are five tips to help you stay awake during lecture.

1. Set realistic goals.

Instead of aiming to study every single night before going to bed, try setting smaller targets. For example, maybe you want to spend at least two hours studying over the weekend, so aim to complete one hour worth of learning per night. By breaking down bigger tasks into manageable chunks, you’ll eventually see big results. And if you miss a target, don’t beat yourself up too much. Look ahead at what else needs to be completed on Monday and adjust accordingly.

2. Stay away from caffeine after lunch. – How to not fall asleep in class

Caffeine stimulates your brain which makes it difficult to focus. This means if you drink coffee right after eating lunch, you won’t be able to concentrate for long periods of time. Drinking caffeinated beverages later in the afternoon has been linked to poor sleeping patterns, and staying away from them first thing in the evening should ensure better rest.

3. Don’t skip meals.

Skipping breakfast means you’re starving throughout the day, making it harder to avoid junk food cravings. When you’re hungry, you might think you shouldn’t eat as much since you’re already full, but this only leads to overeating at dinner. Try to eat something healthy around noon, including protein-packed foods like eggs, peanut butter, yogurt or cottage cheese. That way you won’t crave unhealthy snacks when hunger strikes later in the evening.

4. Be aware of how many calories you consume.

When you’re trying to lose weight, it’s important to track all of your daily calories. But keep in mind that most people overestimate their caloric intake while underestimating their energy expenditure. In other words, they assume they burn off X number of calories each day based on their physical activity level, but often end up consuming more. The same goes for skipping meals — especially ones rich in carbohydrates — since those nutrients usually add up quickly. So instead of thinking about how much you ate today, figure out exactly how many calories you burned through exercise, chores, etc., and subtract that number from your total calorie consumption. Then take note of the difference between these numbers and the amount of calories you consumed to determine where you went wrong.

5. Take breaks regularly. – How to not fall asleep in class

According to Harvard Health Publishing, fatigue is caused by constant alertness rather than prolonged working hours. Taking frequent short breaks reduces the likelihood that you’ll become fatigued. Experts recommend switching positions once every 20 minutes, stretching, getting fresh air, drinking water, and having small bites of food. Even though you may still feel lethargic, you’ll recover faster than if you simply kept pushing forward without stopping. And remember, no matter how tired you feel, you must always seek relief from your teacher or professor. Falling asleep in class is never okay.

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