Here's an experiment that proves you can keep your eyes open even under the most exhausting circumstances. This comes in handy whenever keeping your eyes open and yourself alert.

1) Sit back in your chair with your feet (both of them) squarely on the floor. If you've been clutching a briefcase, clipboard or purse, put it on the table or floor.

2) Put your hands in your lap. With your right thumb, dig deep into the middle of the palm of your left hand. Hold for one minute.

3) Reverse and dig your left thumb into your right palm.

4) Now pinch the base of each finger tightly. Hold each about 30 seconds.

5) Repeat with the other hand.

6) Now press with your thumb on the outer edge of your forearm at about 2-inch intervals all the way up to the elbow on one side.

7) Now continue on the other side back down to the wrist.

8) Do the same with the other arm.

9)Amazing, isn't it? Those eyes stay open all by themselves, and the old brain might even deliver up an idea or two.
I came across this bit a couple of years ago when I attended a two-week seminar that ran from eight o'clock in the morning until six at night. Add to that an hour of commuting at each end and you can see why I was a bit apprehensive about my capabilities to absorb the material delivered in the late afternoon.

Sure enough at about 10 o'clock the first morning, I felt the familiar dull drowsiness creep over me. My frantic efforts to stay awake were interrupted by the lecturer, who suggested we put aside our notebooks and proceeded to teach the routine I have just outlined for you. I was quickly awake again and able to absorb some more of the rather condensed and esoteric material presented.

 The answer, of course, was the routine which the lecturer insisted we do every hour and half. That kept everyone alert and fresh, ready to learn for as many hours as necessary.

Incidentally, a year or so ago I found the source book for this exercise. It is included in a book on Shiatsu, one of the Japanese acupressure methods I mentioned earlier. (Our lecturer had passed the whole thing off as one of his own innovations.) This book is available in paperback and is a good introductory course in the gentle art of punching oneself and others.

(Taken from a text by Mike and Ruth Wolverton called "How to Build a Lie Detector, Brain Wave Monitor and Other Secret Parapsychological Electronics Projects", pp 196-197.)
Another way to stay awake in class:

While sitting, vigorously rub the front of your chest (with your thumb knuckles) where the breastbone (sternum) connects to your ribs. 

 
 
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