I have seen people take coffee and make comments on how much the coffee has benefitted them. I still don't know why I struggled to take coffee back then. I guess it was because of my first experience with coffee, the one I was served that tasted so bitter.
When I was in university, my roommate was a bookworm and a scholar too. He reads a lot to the extent that most times he skips meals just to be able to concentrate on his studies. At times I get to emulate some of his ways and try to be a better version of myself too.
Talking about some of his habits apart from being a scholar in his department, and a bookworm, he also plays and sleeps a lot. I have always wondered how he copes with his time schedules because he doesn’t take much time to read compared to the time he takes to sleep. I can say he is just gifted with a quick and retentive memory.
When it’s exam time, Muhammad turns out to be a different person entirely. Someone who is always sleeping most of his days will remain up and actively reading. I never knew the secret to that until I spent two sessions with him.
On my end I am not always struggling to stay up at night because I prefer going to night classes and then reading where there is noise and a lot of people around me. The noise and distractions are what keeps me up and awake. Any time I mistakenly try to read at home I have always had it worse because I will sleep till the next morning.
One day I was thinking I had to know what Muhammad does to stay awake while reading. I chose to stay at home and read from home with Muhammad.
Hey! Muhammad today I will be reading with you. And I would be grateful if you could explain some stuff to me.
Okay. Qudus. No problem. Muhammad responded.
I was a little happy but uncomfortable at the same time. Because I knew I might mess up by sleeping off while someone who was tutoring me would be awake.
Three hours into studying.
Okay. Qudus, you have to do this, calculate and get the answers. Muhammad added, that after some sessions of tutoring.
While I was solving the assessment, I realized Muhammad was dozing off already.
He stood up and headed to the cabinet where he kept his foodstuffs. Took out a big sachet, got a cup and spoon, took three spoonfuls into the cup from the sachet, and then returned it. I couldn’t focus much to know what he brought out, but as soon as he added some warm water to the cup. The aroma ascertained my doubts that it was coffee.
Oh, he asked me if I would take some too. But I politely declined.
Then he took some sips of it till he emptied the cup. Afterward, Muhammed didn’t sleep till daybreak. His eyes were wide open. I had to leave him and take a nap before preparing for the exam hall that day.
Ever since then, I realized that whenever we are getting closer to the test and exams period Muhammed will always get himself a big sachet of coffee and then mix up and drink each night whenever he studies. I guessed the coffee was a stimulant to him and not a depressant.
On normal days he doesn't take them at all. But he just uses it to stay up at night. It worked well for him and that has made me confirm when some people claim that whenever they take coffee they are always sleepless.
I have tried to understudy myself and my reaction while drinking coffee since then. I took it several times but they never worked that way for me. Even when I took it, I realized I was sleeping more than normal. It doesn’t keep me awake at all.
Our body system reacts differently and I would say that is why some people tend to enjoy taking it more than others would. I know of some people who do have a nice time reading in the library where everywhere is so silent, but every time I try it I end up sleeping immediately.
HEADER & OTHER IMAGES: By [Me] From My Device Camera
