It's just late afternoon and you're already very tired. You struggle to stay awake, but to no avail, and you don't know what to do to keep yourself from falling asleep at the wrong time. If you want to learn some ways to help you stay awake and have more energy, keep reading.
Step
Part 1 of 5: Stimulating your senses
Step 1. Stimulate your feelings
The easiest way to stay awake is to stimulate your feelings. There are many things you can do to make sure your ears, eyes, and even nose are awake and active. The more parts of your body that are awake, the less likely you are to fall asleep. Here are a few things to try:
- Turn on as many lights as you can. If there are not many lights, position yourself close to the light source.
- Suck on candy or gum to keep your mouth awake.
- Smell the peppermint oil to awaken your sense of smell.
- If you're in a place where you can listen to music, listen to jazz, hip-hop, or light rock. Listen to something that will make you feel more awake without disturbing your ears.
- If your eyes hurt, rest and look at the wall or out the window.
Part 2 of 5: Keeping your body alert
Step 1. Keep your body alert
In addition to stimulating your senses, you can trick your body into being more alert than you actually feel. Moving around, touching your earlobes, or rubbing your hands together can make you feel more awake and active. Here are some things you can do to keep your body more alert:
- Wash your face with cold water. Try to keep your eyes open while you wash your face without hurting them.
- Gently pull on your earlobe.
- Pinch your forearms or under your knees.
- Make a fist with both of your hands and then open it. Repeat ten times.
- Tap your feet lightly on the floor.
- Stretch your wrists, arms and legs.
- Rotate your shoulders.
- Get out and fill your lungs with fresh air.
Step 2. Keep your body active
You don't have to run a marathon to be active. Just a little physical activity can keep your body awake. There are ways to increase your 'activity' level even if you're at school or work, and just a few minutes of physical activity can have a dramatic effect on 'activating' your body. Moving your body is a way of telling your body that now is not the time to sleep. Here are some things you can do:
- Take time out for walks when you can. If you're at work, take the long way to the break room, or walk across the street to get coffee. If you're at school, take a long walk when you're about to take your next lesson, or walk around the cafeteria before you sit down to eat.
- Use the stairs instead of the elevator when you can. Unless you're going to the 15th floor, taking the stairs will give you more energy than standing in the elevator. Your heart rate will increase and will keep you awake.
- Take the time to walk for ten minutes when you can.
- When you may not be able to 'do activities' while at school or work, make it a habit to be active regularly, at least thirty minutes a day. Daily exercise is proven to increase your energy levels and help you stay awake.
Part 3 of 5: Using food to stay awake
Step 1. Start your day with a healthy breakfast
Eat eggs, turkey, and some light toast. Or try oatmeal and yogurt. Add greens to your breakfast, such as spinach, celery, or kale. If you don't feel comfortable eating a lot of vegetables for breakfast, make a smoothie, or eat a smoothie before going to school or work.
Step 2. Eat well
Eating the right foods can help increase your energy, make you more alert, and give you fuel for activity. The wrong foods can make you feel sluggish, full, or even more tired than if you don't eat. Here are some tips for eating well to boost your energy and keep you from getting tired:
- Don't eat large portions. Better to eat in small portions, and eat whenever you feel hungry. Avoid eating heavy foods, starchy foods, high-fat foods, and alcohol. These types of foods will make you more tired and will tire your digestion.
- Don't skip meals. Even if you are tired and have no appetite, not eating will make you even more tired.
Step 3. Bring a high-protein snack, such as almonds or cashew nuts
Take fruit with you wherever you go. Not only because it is healthy, but fruit will keep you from wanting to 'snack' snacks that contain lots of sugar.
Snack with peanut butter and celery or yogurt
Step 4. Consume a little caffeine if necessary
Caffeine will help you stay awake, but if you drink too much or too soon, it can give you a headache. Drink a cup of tea or coffee when you need it, and drink it right away or you'll get a headache or an upset stomach.
Avoid energy drinks. Although the drink will have a quick effect to 'wake up' your body, after that, it will make you feel tired and also interfere with your ability to sleep, which will make you more tired the next night
Step 5. Drink cold water
Drink in large quantities. Adequate fluid intake will keep you awake.
Part 4 of 5: Keeping your mind awake
Step 1. Keep your mind alert
Keeping your body awake and alert won't require anything too complicated if your mind is always on the 'flow'. To keep your mind alert, you must think actively, while you are talking or listening to what your teacher is saying. Here are some things you can do to keep your mind alert:
- If you are in class, give extra points for paying attention to the lessons given. Write down whatever your teacher says if you need to reread it to stay focused. Raise your hand and answer the questions posed. If you are confused by some concepts, ask. You are unlikely to fall asleep when you are talking to your teacher.
- If you're at work, talk to coworkers about work-related assignments, or try starting a conversation about history or politics, or about your family, while you're on break.
- If you're struggling to stay awake at home, call a friend, or listen to an interesting radio show.
- Change tasks. To keep your mind active, try changing tasks as often as you can. If you're at school, you can do this by writing with a new pen, using highlighter, or getting up to buy a drink. When you're at work, take a break from typing to photocopy or archive.
Step 2. Take a nap
Whether you're at home or at work, a 5-20 minute nap can help you by giving your system the boost it needs to keep going. Sleeping longer than that will make you feel more tired afterwards and will also make it harder for you to sleep at night. Here's how to put it into practice:
- Find a comfortable area. When you're at home, a cot is ideal, and if you're at work, lean back in your chair.
- Minimize distractions. Turn off your phone, close the door, and do whatever it takes to let others around you know you're sleeping.
- When you wake up, take a deep breath, and drink a glass of water and a little caffeine to feel refreshed. Walk for three minutes to move your body.
Step 3. Look at the twinkling colors
Download the application to your smartphone that displays bright colors that glow. This can activate receptors/cells in the brain that signal you to stay awake. This is also the reason why use an iPad, etc. before bedtime can interfere with your ability to sleep well.
Part 5 of 5: Changing lifestyle factors
Step 1. Avoid future problems
While this trick can help when you're in a pinch, it's best to build a lifestyle that helps keep you from forcing yourself to stay awake because you're so tired. Here are a few ways to do this:
- Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day to establish a healthy routine for your body.
- Start your day with a good morning routine that will keep you alert and ready for the rest of the day.
- Take responsibility. Don't stay up until three in the morning if you know you should be ready to go to work or school in just a few hours.
- If you're tired because you had to stay up all night to study for a test, try setting a study schedule so that next time you don't have to study all night again. Most people cannot receive information when they are tired.
- If you have regular trouble sleeping and feel like you're struggling to stay awake all day, then you should see your doctor to see if you have a sleep disorder.
Tips
- Don't tell yourself, "I'm just resting my eyes." You will almost certainly fall asleep!
- Cold showers can help wake you up, while warm showers can make you sleepier.
- Do not put anything that is too comfortable, such as a mattress, favorite chair, or cot. Sit in a metal chair or on the floor.
- Do something you really enjoy; the more engaged you are, the less likely you are to fall asleep.
- Don't read because it will rest your mind. Don't lie on the bed - it will also rest your mind.
- Try to play your favorite game on your phone or tablet.
- Watching television is less thought-provoking or attention-grabbing and can put you to sleep. If you're trying to stay awake, turn on the radio instead of the TV.
- Eat snacks. Food makes the mind work.
Warning
- If you feel sleepy on the road, “pull over”. Driving while you are sleepy is just as dangerous as drunk driving, and can be fatal.
- Constantly not getting enough sleep at night is not good for your health. Prolonged sleep deprivation can cause hallucinations, slurred speech, dizziness, and grumbling.
- If you have trouble sleeping every night and struggle to stay awake every day, see a doctor.
