What do you do when you become sleepy while trying to finish up a book? Sleep can prevent students from getting fully prepared for their examinations. To avert this, one should adopt effective hacks that can prevent sleep and land you the desired results.

You need to observe yourself and know when you’re more productive. Some read better at night, while some read better early in the morning.

Reading for a long period of time can be very nice but can you remember all you spent your six hours reading? Study smarter and not harder. It is not totally bad to take up to 20 or 30 minutes naps in between the long period of reading.

The following tips can help you stay focused and active while reading.

1.  Sleep well: You cannot cheat nature so try to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night for sound health and maximum productivity.

2.  Read out aloud: This makes you conscious while reading. It improves your learning power and drives away drowsiness.

3.  Take notes: Write out important points while reading. Engage your brain by taking notes, highlighting important text, or underlining main ideas while reading.

4.  Wake yourself up: Munch on a snack, chew gum or take a hot tea or coffee.

5.  Read in a well-lit room: Keep your room bright and well-lighted. Poorly lighted rooms promote a cosy environment which can tempt one to sleep off.

6.  Take a walk: Take a walk for a short while to keep the sleep away and get the blood flowing.

7.  Drink plenty of water: Dehydration can literally shrink the brain, so make sure to drink at least 2 litres of water a day for a good memory and retention power. This can help drive away sleep.

8.  Eat healthy food: Food affects the energy level. Try to take an adequate portion of food before reading. Taking heavy meals before reading diminishes the retention power and makes one feel sleepy.

9.  Sit properly on a chair: Your position while reading affects your assimilation and concentration level. Make yourself less comfortable and avoid lying down.

When you observe the following tips you will be able to not just read for long but also comprehend what you are reading.