How to wake up when you need more sleep

You need to stay awake, but either you haven’t been getting enough quality sleep lately, or you’re sitting through something that’s boring you to tears. How do you manage to stay alert and attentive when you can barely keep your eyes open? There are a few methods, fortunately.

Before I get to them, though, I gotta say: if you’re one of those uptight, driving types who forces yourself to stay awake because you’ve got so much you want to get done, you’re doing long term damage to yourself. Trust me, I speak from personal experience. These tricks are meant to help you temporarily and occasionally. They are not to be used regularly, and they are never to be used while driving or doing anything that requires similar fast response. Without adequate sleep, you’re not capable of responding to emergencies quickly – or wisely.

That said, there are times any of us simply can’t get enough sleep or whatever, and these tricks can help you through those periods.

Force yourself awake

Discomfort. Being a bit cold can help you stay awake and focused. This is a great solution for a boring class or meeting you can’t afford to sleep through.
Pain. Pinching yourself or stepping on your own foot or even biting your tongue or cheek can wake you up for a few critical minutes.
Exercise. Even a little movement circulates the blood more than sitting down. Work standing up, or take a five-minute walk if that’s practical.
Sunlight tells your body it’s daytime and you should be awake. A quick dose of it can help reset your body clock.
Conversation. If you can chat with someone for a couple of minutes, particularly about an intense subject, this will refresh your brain.
Take notes. Force yourself to dutifully take notes of whatever’s going on around you if you’re in a lecture or meeting. This can help you focus on something other than how bored/tired you are.
Go to your happy place. Have a daydream about something you find stimulating.
Take a brief nap if you have a few minutes. Even the shortest of naps can help you stumble through the rest of your day.

There are several sound tips after that for giving yourself enough of a boost to get through the day. If you have insomnia, however, you’re going to need to address that problem sooner or later. Check here and here for some tips.

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