How to study with a hangover?

Being young, studying at university or high school involves making mistakes, partying and all the fun stuff. Today I will guide you how to study after a long, wild (or less wild) night. How to cope with the hangover, lack of sleep or hurting legs after a long night.


The definition of a hangover according to NIH (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism): the set of symptoms occurring after excessive consumption of alcohol. These symptoms include fatigue, weakness, thirst, headache, muscle aches, nausea, stomach pain, vertigo, sensitivity to light and sound, anxiety, irritability, sweating, and increased blood pressure. However, the symptoms or the lack of them can vary from person to person.


The real reason why you feel awful comes down to multiple components not just to the consumption of ethanol. These factors are mild dehydration, disruption of sleep, inflammation, gastrointestinal irritation, acetaldehyde exposure and mini withdrawal.


So, what can we do?

Well, tip one is obviously not to drink or drink in moderation to prevent hangover. Also, unfortunately there is no cure for hangover, but we can try to “fake it till we make it”. Here are some options:


1. Take a shower:

Starting the day, a shower is very much recommended and getting ready as you normally would will help trick your brain into feeling better.


2. Hydrate:

Dehydration occurs due to the suppression of vasopressin which is a hormone promoting water retention. Thereby alcohol consumption promotes urination and additional loss of fluids. This is the underlying reason why everyone says, “drink plenty of fluids”, which still stands and is the only good strategy to combat dehydration.


3. Find a good place to study:

To solve sleepiness, I would recommend studying in your room (but not in the bed!) and taking a nap between two study sessions. If you feel like there is no chance of you studying in your room, try to visit a nice café or a library for motivation.


While studying be more structured and use the Pomodoro technique to help you concentrate.


4. Eat some snacks:

Try to snack on foods that don’t cause a spike in your blood sugar levels to avoid sleepiness such as nuts, hummus with vegetables, popcorn, or yogurt.


5. Move a little bit:

Many people find exercising helpful when it comes to feeling better from a hangover. (I will admit I am not one of those people, I tried it and failed miserably not going to lie.) However, try it! The extra release of endorphins might help getting you into a mindset for studying.


Extra tip:

If you find yourself with a cramping leg after dancing all night take some magnesium and calcium, it really does wonders!


Let us know how your exams go in the comments and if any of the tips helped you!


Sober, drunk or hangover let us help you study by using our flashcards, voice cards and diagrams! Download the Voovo app and explore an elevated learning experience! Our app is available on App Store and Google Play.

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