<p>I'm a high school senior - second semester - already admitted into my first choice college EA. But somehow I still found myself swamped in so much work this week that I took caffeine pills for the first time in my life.</p>
<p>Anyone else had to resort to this? I know some people take ADD/ADHD medicines as "supplements" as well... It's awful, but... what else can we do? I simply can't function at an acceptable level on 5-6 hours of sleep for weeks on end.</p>
<p>I'm used to 4 hour a day sleeps now...</p>
<p>Basically I think the most obvious solution would be time management and shaving off your leisure time. The easiest solution is the hardest IMO.</p>
<p>I'm still not addicted to caffeine so coffee still has an effect on me. A cup of coffee can keep me awake.</p>
<p>But if that doesn't work for you, I guess you'll just have to manage your time. Maybe drop a few extra curricular activities or just do less stuff to get more sleep.</p>
<p>yea...no sleep...
I try to control how much drugs I'll use for school. I gotta say though, I have developed a caffeine addiction. The most I'll drink is a REALLY saturated black tea, but I'll take 2-3 cups a day. I simply can't do work without it when it gets into the afternoon. But I won't let myself get into too much caffeine like coffee or pills. Cap the limits by getting my parents to only buy teas.</p>
<p>eh, the "drugs" aren't cheating. In my opinion they're no different from caffeine or an energy drink. All of them artificially give you more "time": caffeine and energy drinks keep you up longer, so you can study. They don't do the studying for you; they just keep you awake so you can do the work. They don't give you study skills. Same with Ritalin/ADHD meds. They energize you and focus you, but don't make you smarter. I'd argue that they actually make you slightly "dumber."</p>
<p>But be careful with the health repercussions. Ritalin/ADHD meds leave a lasting impact on your brain/comprehension (I wouldn't call it detrimental or negative but the impacts are palpable, ask anyone who's tried). It's an uncomfortable consequence, and I'm not sure it's worth it.</p>
<p>I don't take any drugs. My mom would never let me take any, not even tylenol.</p>
<p>If I'm swamped with work, I usually just drink vault or mountain dew. :D</p>
<p>Good idea :)</p>
<p>Haha, but what difference does it make whether we use Mountain Dew or caffeine pills? It's kind of a moot point :P</p>
<p>Dropping activities second semester senior year?? Crazy! Unheard of! ;) Actually, I have even more work now, because of leadership-type things I tried to get in high school ("Now I actually have to do this stuff???").</p>
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But be careful with the health repercussions. Ritalin/ADHD meds leave a lasting impact on your brain/comprehension (I wouldn't call it detrimental or negative but the impacts are palpable, ask anyone who's tried). It's an uncomfortable consequence, and I'm not sure it's worth it.
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<p>That is a very good point ^</p>
<p>That is why I figure it is easier to do a little coffee. I make a downright sick mocha drink when I have to stay up all day and night doing schoolwork. It is espresso, milk, chocolate, sugar, and ice...then I blend it up. But, it is strong as heck when I do it. I cannot even drink it very often because I would never sleep.</p>
<p>It is fun, when you have no choice but to stay up all day and night doing schoolwork, to play with stuff in the kitchen and see what you can come up with. One of my pals "invented" chocolate covered espresso bean brownies one time when they were studying for stuff.</p>
<p>I've stayed home sick do do homework lots of times... but never any pills.</p>
<p>You people are insane. No amount of schoolwork is worth sleeping for 4 hours and taking tons of pills that aren't the healthiest things in the world.</p>
<p>Either drop some activities or change your lifestyle. For being "smart" people, this seems like the most idiotic bunch of blowhards that I've ever come across in my life.</p>
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Either drop some activities or change your lifestyle. For being "smart" people, this seems like the most idiotic bunch of blowhards that I've ever come across in my life.
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<p>I won't deny it ;) Although I do not go by four hours of sleep... I'm more of a "seven hours for a minimum of function" person. I need my rest. Which is why just a little bit of overwork hurts so much...</p>
<p>BTW, it's not schoolwork - it's the things I do because I love doing them. And I do take days off - I did just that today, as a matter of fact. (I was also sick, but "sick" basically means "day off"... right? :D)</p>