1. Take Breaks. No matter what you’re focusing your attention on, your brain needs frequent breaks in order to stay sharp and not become fatigued. Studies show taking breaks increases your productivity and improves your overall health. Make a schedule so you know when to take breaks. If you’re feeling drowsy and you’re working on something important, allow yourself a quick break. You’ll find it easier to stay awake and to focus on the task at hand once you get back to it. For tips about how and when to take breaks in order to have optimal brain function throughout your day, go here.
2. Alternate Activities. Boredom definitely won’t do you any favors when it comes to staying awake. You need to alternate your activities so that your mind and body stay active and engaged. When you shift things around instead of doing the same thing for 10 hours straight, your mind is more able to focus on fresh tasks. For an extra cue to your brain that it’s go time for a big project or challenging situation, try Hapbee’s Focus signal. Hapbee is the perfect mental focus headband for when you can’t concentrate or you can’t focus at work. Get it now at https://hapbee.com/ (more info to come—keep reading!)
4. Use Rosemary Oil. I know you’re thinking this is just part of the essential oil craze, but don’t write it off just yet. Studies actually show rosemary oil can stimulate brain activity and yield numerous medical benefits. Keep a stash in your drawer and put a little under your nose to wake yourself up. For an affordable option, go here.
6. Stay Cool. You’re probably familiar with the drowsiness that comes when you’re in a warm environment. Keeping a low (but not too low) temperature increases productivity and helps your brain focus. According to research, somewhere between 72 to 77 degrees is the best temperature. For more information about the ideal room temp to boost productivity, read this.
8. Listen to Music. Jamming out to your favorite tunes keeps your brain energized. Of course, you’ll want to choose music that’s on the lively side, not slow and hypnotic. To indulge in high-quality sound that’ll get your brain moving, check out Sonos.
9. Stay Active. There’s no better way to give yourself an energy boost than to get your body moving. Exercise has tons of benefits that all point to increased vitality, such as endorphins, cardiovascular endurance, higher oxygen levels, and sharper focus. To figure out exactly which workouts are the most energizing for you, go here.
11. Eat Healthy Snacks. It’s no surprise snacking on potato chips just makes you feel even more sleepy. Your body needs to be fueled properly so it can fight sluggishness. Energizing foods include nuts, granola, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, vegetables, hummus, and fresh fruit. For a lengthy list of superfuel foods, check out this article.
13. Get Mad. Your partner won’t thank you for this one, but it will certainly help you stay vigilant. Dr. Jedidiah Ballard suggests dwelling on something that makes you angry and even yelling about it if possible. Spend some time venting about your neighbors or your old boss or whatever gets you going. You won’t have any problem with drowsiness for a while. For more outrageous ideas from Dr. Ballard, go here.
14. Splash Your Face. Head over to the sink and douse yourself with cold water. It’s a surefire way to shock your system and wake yourself up! If you want to put a fun twist on this, ask a family member to spritz you with cold water whenever your eyes start to get a little bit heavy. To discover more about the health benefits of cold showers, go here.
16. Massage Strategically. If you’ve ever had a massage, you probably remember feeling relaxed and almost asleep by the end of it. Surprisingly, there are certain parts of your body you can massage to give yourself energy. These pressure points include behind your knees, right below the balls of your feet, the back of your neck, and between your thumb and index finger. For more details about how massage can boost your energy, click here.
17. Strategize Your Time. It’s essential to plan your day so you can accomplish the most important tasks when you have the most energy. If you have a big project for work or an important sales call to make, schedule it in the late morning or early evening. Save the other stuff like sorting emails, getting your hair done, etc. for the early afternoon and evening. To find out your sleep spirit animal and exactly when YOU’RE most (and least) productive throughout the day, take The Sleep Doctor’s quiz.
19. Yoga Nidra. This awesome yoga hack will rejuvenate you and make you feel like you slept soundly all night—even if you didn’t. Start by lying face up on the floor in yoga corpse pose. Then, go through the four stages of brain activity using a guided meditation or yoga nidra instructor. When you reach the delta stage, which is the state of restoration and regeneration, your body will compensate for the quality sleep you might have missed the night before. Take a moment to do this when you feel tired and quickly replace the energy you’ve been lacking. Find out more about yoga nidra here.
20. Get a UVB Light. Sunlight exposure is precisely what your body needs in order to feel energized, but what if it’s snowy January in the Midwest or dreary November in the Pacific Northwest? Using a UVB light has numerous benefits such as prompting dopamine production, decreasing inflammation, supplying Vitamin D, promoting skin health, and more. You’ll be much more energized all winter long if you commit to using a UVB light regularly. For more information about which UVB lamp to invest in and other light hacks, read this.
21. Snack on Bulletproof Collagen Protein Bars. Calculating which foods to eat at which time is exhausting. If you’re looking for a healthy on-the-go snack that energizes you and strengthens your body at the same time, check out Bulletproof Protein Collagen Bars. They satisfy your hunger while keeping you completely focused and fully awake. Order some here.
22. Get a Fatigue Alarm. If you’re really concerned about staying awake in tough situations like driving or working all night, use this gadget that was designed for long car rides. It’s an ear piece that sounds an alarm when your head starts to fall forward from drowsiness. Order the LGI Driver Fatigue Alarm here.
23. Build a Routine. Your body needs to know exactly what you expect from it. Don’t wake up at random times and work on things haphazardly throughout the day. Set a time to wake up and stick to it. When your body understands when it’s time to rest and when it’s time to be productive, you’ll find the balance you need to stay awake all day. To create a healthy routine that will keep you up during the day and asleep at night, click here.
25. Wear Optalert Glasses. These fancy and stylish glasses monitor drowsiness by tracking your eyelid movements and sound an alarm when you get sleepy. Originally designed for the mining industry, they are sure to keep you alert all day. Check them out here.
26. Download the Wakey Wakey App. This one is for extreme situations only. Wakey Wakey prompts you to periodically press a button. If you don’t press it, an annoying sound of your choice will play and wake you up. Get it here.
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