What Foods Can Help Me Stay Awake?
If you are trying to stay awake, whether it’s during the last half of the day or you are making a run at staying up all night, your best bet is to stick with small amounts of lean protein and healthy carbohydrates eaten every three or four hours. Eating on a regular schedule will make sure that your body is always digesting and delivering a consistent stream of sugar into your system. This will help you maintain a steady stream of energy throughout the day or night.
Fruits are a great source of natural sugar which can be very helpful if you are having trouble staying awake. Some fruits that are high in sugar include apples, cherries, grapes, loganberries, kumquats, and mangoes. Other fruits that can help you stay awake include pineapple, pomegranates, bananas, figs, prunes, and dried fruits. Fruit juices like apple or orange juice are also a very good source of natural sugars.
Tyramine is an amino acid that causes the release of norepinephrine, a brain stimulant that can keep you awake. Foods containing the amino acid tyramine, commonly found in chocolate, cheese, sausage, bacon, ham, aubergines, tomatoes, red wine, peppers, smoked meats, and fish can all keep you awake.
Drinking the right things is also extremely important. Avoid dehydration is very helpful if you are trying to avoid fatigue. A cold glass of water will keep you refreshed and hydrated. Any caffeinated beverages are useful to help you stay awake. Drinks with high caffeine content include coffee, sodas, teas, energy drinks and energy shots. While these energy drinks can be very useful to help you stay awake it is also important not to become overly reliant on high caffeine drinks since they can become addictive or cause health problems long term and may result in a crash after prolonged use.
How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep
One of the best ways to keep yourself from being tired tomorrow is to get a good night of sleep tonight. Use these five tips to make sure you are well rested and make it easier to stay awake tomorrow.
How much sleep do you need?
While there isn’t an exact figure most experts agree that adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. It is important to know your body though, some people are fine on six hours of sleep while some people need eight or nine hours each night.
Be Consistent
Maintaining a consistent sleep and wake schedule even on the weekends is the best way to ensure that you get the proper amount of sleep night after night. Obviously it is easier to wake up at a set time everyday especially if you have to be at work every day but setting a time to go to bed though it may be difficult will help you in the long run.
Don’t Eat or Drink Before Bed
You should avoid eating anything two to three hours before you are trying to get to sleep. It is especially important to avoid any sugary snacks close to bed time. The same goes for caffeine, try to keep from drinking any sodas or similar caffeinated beverages late at night.
Get Your Blood Pumping
A good, hard workout towards the end of the day can help you get rid of all the energy that you have built up throughout the day. Even 15 minutes of physical activity can help wear you down and make drifting into sleep that much easier. Follow your workout up with a warm bath or shower and you will be ready for bed in no time.
Get Comfortable
The more comfortable you are the easier it will be for you to fade off towards dreamland. A nice mattress and some comfortable pillows are a good start. Throw in a dark room and make sure the temperature is right and say goodbye to tonight and hello to tomorrow.
How to Stay Awake During Class
Sometimes an early morning class after a long night or a boring late afternoon class that seems to go on forever can make it hard to keep your eyelids from dropping. Here are five tips to help you stay awake in class.
Have Some Breakfast
They call breakfast the most important meal of the day for a reason. Getting your day started with a good balanced breakfast will help provide you the energy to get your day started. Have some cereal or fruit and some juice of coffee and avoid starting your day on an empty stomach.
Get a Little Uncomfortable
Don’t slouch down in your chair into a comfortable position try sitting up straight instead. Avoid putting your elbow on your desk and propping your head up it is way too easy to slip away into a dream state if you are in a comfortable position.
Participate in Class
Try to get involved in a discussion on the topic of the class this will help stimulate your mind which in turn will help you stay awake. Alternatively, you can take notes or brainstorm on the subject at hand. The process of writing will get your brain and muscles moving and keep you up.
Have a Drink
If you are allowed to eat and drink in class it is a good idea to bring some kind of snack, try to be respectful of classmates and not bring anything overly crunchy or noisy. As for drinks, a cold bottle of water is always helpful but if you are really struggling try something caffeinated like coffee or an energy drink to help you stay awake.
Choose a Good Seat
Sitting in the far back corner may help you avoid detection if you do happen to fall asleep, but if you are trying to stay up grab a seat right up front the pressure will force you to stay awake and it will be easier to get involved in the class.
How to Stay Awake While Driving
Are you driving late at night after a long day? Feeling beat down during a long road trip? Here are five tips to help you stay awake while driving to keep you safe and make sure you get home in one piece.
Turn It Up
Turn that stereo on then turn the volume up, way up. Loud, fast-paced music can help you stay awake while driving down the road. Anything you can sing along to is even better so put on something you can rock out to and keep on moving down the highway.
Get Some Air
Crack the window and let the wind hit your face. A cool breeze and the feeling of the air hitting you will have you feeling much better. If rolling the window down isn’t an option try blasting the air conditioning for a similar effect.
Chew On That
Chewing on anything gets your face muscles moving and can help you stay awake. Try some chewing gum, twizzlers, or any chewable candy. Get your jaw moving and stay on the road.
Just Stop It
On a long road trip it is important to make frequent stops. A good rule of thumb is to stop every 2 hours or one hundred miles. Take some time to visit a local landmark or a good road food spot not only will this help you stay awake but will make the trip more enjoyable and help you get to know the places you travel. If you don’t have time for tourism, stop at a rest area or gas station to walk around a bit and grab a drink or a snack.
Caffeine and Sugar
There is a reason people love caffeine and sugar … THEY HELP YOU STAY AWAKE. If you are fading fast grab a coffee, an espresso, a soda, or an energy drink and add some sugary treat and your trip will be right back on track.
10 Ways to Stay Awake Naturally
Trying to stay awake without caffeine, pills, or sugar? Try these ten natural tips to stay awake.
Get Up and Move Around
Shake your body and get that blood flowing. Take a walk or do some exercise to help snap you out of that sluggish state.
Control Your Breathing
Deep breathing can help reduce stress, a source of fatigue, and increases the level of oxygen in the blood.
Take a Power Nap
A 15 to 20 minute nap can make a world of difference in your energy level for the rest of the day. If you can sneak in a short nap make the most of the opportunity.
Have a Snack
A snack with natural sugars like fruit or something chewy that will get your jaw muscles working can stave off your hunger and help you stay awake.
Have a Cold Drink
Wash that snack down with a cold glass of water. Dehydration is a leading cause of fatigue and a cold glass of water is not only refreshing and invigorating but will definitely keep you from staying dehydrated.
Turn Up the Lights
Studies have shown that exposure to bright light can reduce sleepiness and increase alertness. A dark or dimly lit room can contribute to drowsiness so turn on a light to wake yourself up.
Turn Up the Air Conditioning
While you are up turning the lights on hit the air conditioning too. Warm environments tend to accelerate mental fatigue. Let the cool air snap you out of your funk.
Turn Up the Music
You got the lights and the AC cranking now turn the speakers on and get some music pumping. Something fast-paced can help you from falling asleep.
Do Something Entertaining
Throw on a funny or exciting video clip online or on television. Staying entertained helps keep you alert.
Wash Your Face
Splashing cold water on your face is a quick, easy way to be refreshed.
How to Stay Awake at Work
Are you having trouble staying awake at the office? These five tips will help you make it to the end of the work day without falling victim to the Sandman. Use the methods and STAY AWAKE at work.
Step Away From the Desk
If you are feeling sluggish and sleepy try to break away from your desk for a few minutes take a walk, stretch, jump around for a bit and get your blood flowing. Take a trip to the bathroom, the water cooler, or step outside and get some fresh air. Just a few minutes up and moving can really help you from drifting off to sleep.
Give Your Eyes a Break
Long periods of staring at a computer screen can cause your eyes to strain and make you sleepier and more fatigued. Look away from the monitor for a couple of minutes to relax your eyes.
Have a Cold One
A leading cause of fatigue is dehydration. A cold glass of water not only helps you stay hydrated but the cold will help shock your body a bit and make you feel more awake.
Talk It Out
Get your mind moving by engaging in a conversation with a coworker. Talk about sports, TV, or weekend plans. Anything that stimulates your brain will help keep you awake and laughter definitely helps so stopping by a funny coworker’s desk can keep you stay awake if you are struggling to keep your eyes open.
Switch It Up
Repetitive, monotonous tasks are horrible for alertness. Try to use the time when you are starting to feel a bit sleepy to do your more stimulating and engaging tasks. Save the more boring work for times when you have more energy. Switching between jobs will also help you stay awake so try to move onto something different if your energy level is dropping.