Other than coffee...

So I've started work, graduate school, and attempting to have a life all at the same time and I've run out of time in the day. I recently started drinking coffee for the caffeine and it's amazing the amount of stuff I can get done, but I don't want to live on caffeine. Does anyone know of any other methods to "make extra time in the day"? If I work out at night (20-30 minutes) I can usually squeeze an extra hour of work out of the night, but I need more than an hour... as any grad student can tell you. Help please! :)

Thu. Sep 21, 2:15pm

as a grad student, you really can't expect to pursue school and have a job AND "have a life", at least not in my experience...lol.

Thursday, September 21, 2006, 2:21 PM

Set an alarm for things you may lose track of time with. For example, if you start doing chores and tend to get carried away, set an alarm for 20 minutes and tell yourself that whatever you get done in that time is it for the day.

Order groceries from PeaPod.

Limit your to-do lists to things you can actually accomplish in a day.

Group errands together so you only have to make one trip.

Delegate.

Thursday, September 21, 2006, 3:39 PM

As a fellow working grad student I've found that limiting my social activities to one or two nights a week (max) was best for me. Realistically, trying to do it all is impossible and the caffine is tough on your body (at least it was for me, I had to give it up)...so, if something had to give, it had to be social...school is the priority now, then paying the bills, then working out (that is for me), everybody/thing else comes after. That doesn't mean that a night out is forbidden, quite the contrary...that time is important too...but just know that you can't do it all, so decide what has to give and push through the term.

Thursday, September 21, 2006, 4:45 PM

law students like myself are required by the ABA to sign a document promising to not work more than part time if we're a full time student. Maybe you should use the same guidelines, if you're a full time student, you shouldn't work more than 20 hours a week... and find friends within your program, ultimately they're the only ones who will understand your committments and won't make you party more than you should.

I'm not promising this is a fool proof formula, I still don't have enough time. But I wake up no later than 7 am and hit the sack at midnight so I still have decent sleep. how many hours are you sleeping?

Good luck!

Thursday, September 21, 2006, 5:50 PM

OP Here...

So... I guess my question wasn't how to balance it all (although that may not have been clear) I certainly appreciate the feedback... but it was more of a "I'm going to have to stay up anyway" kind of question. I used to eat to keep myself awake, bad plan. And I've stopped doing that, but I'm looking for alternatives to the coffee that can help me stay awake more. Honestly, my sleep varies, as does my work hours (which are set by the college and are not given to me more than 3-4 days in advance TOPS). So there's a lot I can't control. (And I already have- honestly- no social life, possibly 2 hours a week tops and it's usually catching dinner or a movie).... No empty calories. So any suggestions for pulling a late night, without the caffeine?

Thursday, September 21, 2006, 11:27 PM

I think all the suggestions have been geared toward trying to make more time for you to sleep. Make your health a priority by getting as much sleep as you can. I personally got depression from an overworked schedule like this. If I had it to do again, I wouldn't have pushed myself so hard because I am still recovering from it 5 years later. (I also did the "eating to stay awake" thing and probably gained 20 pounds, so I understand that you want to avoid that.)

Friday, September 22, 2006, 10:18 AM

The best thing to have in order to stay alert is, obviously, enough sleep.

After that, make sure that you're well hydrated - drink lots of water. Also make sure you're getting good nutrients throughout the day, and plenty of veggies and fruits. Probably also take a multivitamin. Make sure you're getting enough iron, so you do not become anemic from the lack of sleep and stress. Just make sure that you're not deficient in anything, and you'll be more alert.

Friday, September 22, 2006, 12:50 PM

OP... Thank you to the 12:50 poster... those are the types of things I'm looking for... I'm on a multivitamin but it's always good to have yet another reason to drink more water. So thank you!

I definitely understand the need for sleep, but unfortunately in my current context it's not always possible. Thanks for the ideas! :)

Friday, September 22, 2006, 11:35 PM

Reducing nitric oxide in the brain to stay awake
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060908094456.htm

Napping
http://projectririan.blogspot.com/2006/09/5-reasons-to-take-naps.html

Tips for shift workers
http://health.msn.com/centers/sleep/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100050651

Saturday, September 23, 2006, 8:46 AM

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