Left and right on campus you will see either a plethora of students with either coffee or energy drinks in hand as they juggling work, class schedules and a social life that may or may not be out of control. The bags under their eyes scream exhaustion, so these highly caffeinated drinks are understandable. But what if there was another way?
Junior art major Dallas Berry is a serial caffeine drinker. “I can’t get through the day without it,” he admitted. When he doesn’t drink it, Berry revealed, “I get raging headaches, I’m always tired and I can’t focus on anything.”
There are better ways to stay awake without withdrawal effects.
While caffeine may give you an energy boost to get you through the day, the National Institutes of Health outlines the consequences to an excessive amount of caffeine such as insomnia, dehydration, headaches, dizziness and even dependency. Due to the excessive caffeine in energy drinks, people with anxiety, migraines, heart problems or those on certain medication should avoid energy drinks. Even teenagers should stay away because they are more susceptible to the side effects of caffeine.
There’s a hefty selection of Monster and other caffeinated soda at the Snack Bar
According to the Mayo Clinic, an excessive amount of caffeine for adults is anything over 400 milligrams, which is about four cups of coffee or 10 cans of soda. This is a lot harder to measure when drinking energy drinks, as the Mayo Clinic also reveals, they are not as accurate with their labels in terms of how much caffeine is in them.
Freshman biology major Jenna Dudra does not drink caffeine. She said, “I haven’t drank soda in years.” She stays awake throughout the whole day simply being “high on life.” Everyone could be on that metaphorical high on life if they didn’t rely on energy drinks to get them through the day. Here are some other tactics students can consider when trying to stay awake without drinking five cups of coffee before their 8 a.m. class.
- Get a full eight hours of sleep! Drinking five cups of coffee cannot cure sleep deprivation, it only increases chances of insomnia. The Mayo Clinic advises eight hours of sleep a night for late teenagers and adults.
- Exercise! While exercise might be the last thing you want to do when you’re fatigued, it actually increases energy-promoting chemicals in the body, according to the Mayo Clinic.
- Drink water! According to the National Institutes of Health, even mild dehydration can cause someone to lose their focus. Just staying hydrated can keep students alert, so put down the energy drink and pick up a bottle of water.
Water, exercise and sleep cost a lot less than the energy drinks or coffee that keep you awake all day. Besides giving you the right energy boost you need for your day, these three simple activities can provide you with a surplus of health benefits. Caffeine in moderation is not bad for you, but sometimes it’s hard to keep track when all you’re thinking about is sheer exhaustion. Avoid the problem altogether, and just get some sleep, exercise and hydration.