How To Get Through a Boring Class

We’ve all done it. First period, half awake, sitting through the least interesting lesson of all time, counting down the minutes until class is over. It’s a feeling that’s universally understood, but it doesn’t have to be that way. And, we have a three tricks to get you through even the most boring classes, so let’s get started.

Ask Questions

By asking questions, you’re forcing your brain to pay attention to something. You’ll be able to grab onto a few pieces of material at a time and engage in the lesson. It doesn’t have to be every minute, but if you notice yourself loosing focus or dozing off, maybe take a second to read what’s on the slide or hear what your teacher is saying and formulate a question. They’ll also appreciate the interaction, because if you’re falling asleep, chances are everyone else is too.

Take Notes

If you tell yourself that you need to remember pieces of information, your brain will start looking for things to write down. It’s okay if they aren’t the best notes in the world, because the simple act of extracting what the teacher is saying and putting it somewhere else will wake your brain up. We have multiple ways to do this, and you can check out our various notes templates in the Tools page to see what you like best. And, if your class is a “nothing on the desk, listen to me speak,” sort of structure, ask the teacher for permission to write them. Most of the time they will say yes and recognize it as you being genuinely curious about their class (you don’t actually have to be, but it gives you a good look). Plus, if there’s a test in that class you need to study for, now you have a copy of the content you were learning, instead of bits and pieces of information because you were half awake.

Choose Your Seat Wisely

If you sit in the back, you’re going to be further away from the teacher and more prone to falling asleep. However, if you sit in the front, you’ll be right up there and in the action. Even if you don’t directly interact, you’ll still see the screen and/or hear the teacher easier, meaning it’s less likely that you’ll tune things out and go off to la-la land. And, as an added bonus, by being in the front row, the teacher will notice if you fall asleep. So, if you don’t want to get in trouble, it’s best to stay awake.

We know that some classes are just going to be brutal to get through every day, no matter what you try. But, we hope that these tips are going to help you stay awake and alert in your classes and get to the top of the teacher’s list. And, if you want more strategies or tools for getting organized and excelling in school, check out our other blog posts!