When you need to stay awake

March 18th, 2007          Email This Post        Print This Post

Disclaimer: If you are completely exhausted, sleep may be inevitable. So if you are driving, pull over to the side of the road and have some caffeine and a quick nap. When you wake up, the caffeine and sleep will keep you going. Hopefully being tired when you need to be up isn’t something that happens often. If it is, its something you need to fix! There are many strategies on this site to help that. Boring things don’t make you sleepy, they only let your tiredness come to the fore. The scenario that I am most familiar with is in a class or lecture (especially boring ones), and will most likely also apply in some business settings, i.e. a board meetings (or bored meetings). Some of these tips needs some preparation, but they usually work better. Some others might not be possible or appropriate. Use whichever circumstances permit:

Physical things to do:

• Make sure you aren’t hot. Heat, or too many layers, can induce sleepiness. Being cold could impede sleep, but won’t always.
• Take a 15-25 minute power nap. This is probably better for you than coffee.
• Have a cup of coffee. Go easy on the sugar, because it could cause a crash. If you will be sleeping in the next three hours then this isn’t suggested - and you should be, if you are exhausted now. Even if you are able to fall asleep despite the caffeine, research has shown that it alters the normal brain waves and could impair the effectiveness of that sleep.
• Get up, use the bathroom, wash your face with cold water, stretch a bit, and take a brisk walk.
• Eat something. Citruses and unshelled seeds might be the best. Peel it, and eat as small pieces as you have patience for. The activity (and natural sugar in the fruit) should help keep you up.
• Something physical to keep you busy, and do something good for yourself. Some of more obvious than others, and might just look weird. Don’t stretch too far! From least to most:
  1. Leave your toes on the ground and pick up your legs.

  2. Stretch your fingers back.
  3. Put your hand on the opposite leg.Straighten out the elbow.
  4. Turn your head all the way to the left or right. Feel the stretch.
  5. Put a hand behind your back and push/pull
  6. The following are all really noticeable, and might be good to do before that brisk walk rather than while seated:
  7. Roll your head in a complete circle
  8. Tilt your head to either side, and hold for 30 seconds. Feel the stretch.
  9. Put one hand on your back, over your shoulders. Push down on the elbow with your other hand.
• Stand up. If you are still falling asleep when not leaning on anything, then you are probably exhausted!
• Put yourself in a position that you need your muscles to hold your body. Put your upper body far forward in the chair, sit up very straight or rigid, or rest your head on one finger. Do NOT slouch, lean back, rest your head completely, or close your eyes!

Mental things to do:

• Psyche yourself up and become interested
• If you can’t, then try to argue (in your own mind, only!) on everything that is said.
• Take notes
• See if this is new information. If so, then it should be of interest.
• Try to memorize facts using mnemonics and visualizations - but don’t get carried away and stop paying attention.
• See what angle the speaker is coming from.
• Predict where the speaker is going with his current line of reasoning.

Similar Posts:

• How to Enjoy Lectures/Classes/Speeches (or At least Stay Awake)
• How to fall asleep quickly, part 1
• Sleep Hack: Repeat "Sleep"
• Stretch before and after sleeping
• Counting while stretching: take deep breathes
• Learning Can Be Easier Than You Thought - And Fun!