While it’s fun to party all night, the compulsion of surviving the entire following day at work can be a pain in the ass. So just like there are some tricks you can use to avoid the heavy hangover from the previous night, there are some ways by which you can also ensure that the next day of work remains productive even after your rocking night.These few tips will ensure you’re up and about at work, and that at the end of the day, your boss has no complaints!
1. Eat a good breakfast
When you haven’t slept, your body can capitalise on all the energy you have in store. And breakfast goes a long way to make you feel alright – after all it is the most important meal of the day. A good breakfast with eggs, cornflakes, milk/ juice and some fruits will make sure that you’re up and alert after an under slept night. You may also add some greens.
2. Keep binging on protein snacks and nuts
Don’t eat huge meals, but don’t skip them either. While you avoid the starch and the fats, make sure you have protein bars handy. Carry around snacks or foods that are high in protein, such as almonds or cashews – these tiny meals can prove to be a great source of energy on a tired day.
3. Chew gum
Mint helps you stay up. Sucking on a mint or a gum will also keep you’re mouth alert thus reduce sleepiness. You can also sniff some peppermint oil to wake up your senses.
4. Coffee works wonders
This trick is as true as the saying ‘old is gold’. Frequenting coffee on a sleep derived day will keep you alert. Just like when you’re studying for your tests – the extra doses of caffeine ensure that you get through the day without dozing off.
5. Apples work better
Not only the doctor, apples can even help keeping drowsiness away. The crunch and the the lingering scent wakes you up. Moreover, it also serves to be a constant source of glucose to your body – giving you energy that makes up for the loss of sleep. It is said to work even better than coffee!
6. Start a conversation to feel alert
When you just cant stay up any longer, take your mind off work. Talk to a fellow colleague – get into an intense discussion and feel your sleepiness vanish! Taking to someone will keep your mind awake, no matter how tired your body might feel.
7. Turn up the lights
With the lights off, your eyes feel relaxed. Since you’re low on energy with sleep being about the primary thing on your mind, you’re most likely to doze off in dim lights. Turn up the lights to stay alert. Even looking at bright colours can activate the receptors in your brain that alert you to stay awake.
8. Rest your eyes
Looking and concentrating on screens particularly strains eyes, especially on under slept days. Look away from the screen periodically to relax your eyes and get back to work.
9. Take a breather
Deep breathing raises oxygen levels in your body. This slows your heart rate , lowers blood pressure , and improves circulation, ultimately not only helping you to stay up but also aiding mental performance and energy.
10. Switch tasks
Don’t let your work get monotonous especially on a day after a sleepless night. In 2004, Finnish researchers who studied people working 12-hour night shifts found that monotonous work is as harmful as sleep loss for alertness. Switch to more engaging work when you feel like dozing off.
11. Drink water
Dehydration can cause fatigue. It can prove to be a real killer when you’re tired and under slept. Make sure you keep drinking water to wear off the weariness and reduce the number of yawns.
12. Walk around in the sun
Step outside in the sun to revive your senses. Taking a walk in sunlight not only helps you feel more awake but also gives you the much needed break on a tired day.
13. Turn up the music
If your work place allows some music, play peppy upbeat numbers that keep you going to stay up. Otherwise, what are those earphones for?
14. Exercise to feel alert
Light exercise always makes you feel more alive and active. But make sure you don’t overdo it. Stretch, roll your neck and shoulders and gently pull down your earlobes. Splash water on your face after and you’re good to go for the next few hours.
15. Take a power nap
If nothing else works, take a nap. “Nap between five and 25 minutes,” says Barry Krakow, MD, author of Sound Sleep, Sound Mind: Seven Keys to Sleeping Through the Night. Just find a comfortable spot and doze off for a bit. Your day will feel a hole lot livelier after.
And finally, get on track.
Though these tricks help you, sleep is important for your system. Make sure you get enough sleep after so that you don’t fall sick. These tricks can help you out of situations, but the smartest way out is not to get in the situation in the first place. After all developing a good sleep cycle and a healthy lifestyle is the best hack!
