When it’s time for me to sit down and get work done, there are a few elements of my study sessions that can really make or break my productivity. Like many of my peers, I prefer a space that is quiet and absent of any major distractions. I like to have a big surface to spread out my supplies while I work, and I always need my to-do list on hand. My favorite aspect of a good study session is having a little hydration accessible as well. At school, it’s usually just water, but at home I enjoy the luxury of choosing something fun to give me some motivation to work. The options are endless, but these are my all-time favorites.

Poppi Sodas

My mom recently came home with a pack of Poppi sodas from Costco, and I was pleasantly surprised with these drinks. While they are a bit pricey, these sodas come in a variety of flavors and are healthier than a normal soda. They contain significantly less sugar, and also have prebiotic elements for gut health. Cherry Lime is my favorite flavor out of the pack that Costco carries, but I’m hoping to get my hands on the ones that supposedly taste like root beer. My only complaint is that they can be pretty sweet – sometimes I like to mix them with sparkling water in order to tone down the flavor.

Vitamin Water Zero

I grew up drinking vitamin water, and recently it has made a return to our household. I like to mix it with some sparkling water in order to spruce it up and add some carbonation. While Vitamin water can contain a lot of sugar, there are versions that use alternative, natural sweeteners. My mom is a fan of Vitamin water because it contains electrolytes, which I appreciate after a long game or practice before I have to focus on schoolwork. The lemonade flavor is especially refreshing and hydrating when mixed with a fruity sparkling water. 

Sparkling Water – canned

If you can’t already tell, I’ll add sparkling water to pretty much anything. However, I enjoy it on its own as well. I’ve been working on ranking my top brands in terms of flavor and level of carbonation. My all time favorites are La Croix Strawberry Pineapple, La Croix Key Lime, Waterloo Cherry Limeade, and Bubly Black Cherry. These are my top picks for sipping by themselves, but I often use more subtle flavors to mix with juice, Poppi, and Vitamin water. 

Sparkling Water – homemade

My mom has turned the majority of my sisters into sparkling water addicts, and at some point she decided it may be financially worthwhile to purchase a carbonator to make our own, rather than buying multiple 24 packs every week. The machine carbonates faucet water, and we add different flavors. Although it’s a fun process and tastes good, in the end it wasn’t a wise financial decision because now we are just buying canisters for the machine and more flavor bottles in addition to the canned sparkling water we normally purchase. However, I like this option because one can regulate the amount of carbonation and flavor to their personal preference. 

Kombucha

I used to hate kombucha – the concept of drinking bacteria weirded me out, and I wasn’t a fan of the taste. Over the past few years, however, it’s grown on me a bit and I’ve gone through phases of either having it three times a week or avoiding it for months at a time. I’m currently indifferent about it, but I appreciate its health benefits. Finding a brand that isn’t full of sugar and is affordable has proven tricky, but I’m still on the hunt for the perfect kombucha to have by my side while I study. 

Tea 

I’m a pretty big tea person, and I’ve come to perfect my tea selection specifically for studying. If I need a little caffeine, I’ll opt for a chai and black tea blend – usually iced, because that wakes me up if I’m working later in the evening. If I know I’ll be heading to bed in the next hour or so, I like to drink hot chamomile so that I can easily fall asleep after I’m done working. I like mint if I’m feeling sick, and fruity tea blends if I need something iced that I can mix with sparkling water for some hydration. 

Zevia 

My parents used to have Zevia sodas in the house, which are similar to Poppi in the idea that they are a bit healthier than normal sodas and don’t give you that sugar crash afterwards. I especially liked these drinks because they mimic popular sodas like Coca Cola, rootbeer, and Dr. Pepper, and therefore contain caffeine. I don’t consume a lot of caffeine, but these had the perfect amount to keep me awake and enhance my focus on homework.