How-To Tuesday: Staying Awake When You’re Tired

Good morning all!! 🙂

Sorry I missed you yesterday, it was a pretty busy day.

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Happy Tuesday!!

Has anyone else been feeling extremely tired lately or is it just me?? The dumb weather needs to get a grip and figure out if it wants to be warm or cold, preferably warm.

GET IT TOGETHER, MOTHER NATURE.

Anyway, I figured this would be a perfect how-to for this Tuesday, since I sometimes need help with this too.

Whether you couldn’t catch enough sleep last night or you have been partying all night, it might be helpful to know how to stay awake when you are feeling sleepy and tired. When your body is screaming sleep, it’s a bad thing to force yourself to stay alert. However, sometimes we have plenty of important tasks to accomplish and we need to stay awake no matter what. HI CAFFEINE.

Here’s my list of 10 tips on how to stay awake when you are feeling sleepy and tired. Hopefully, they’ll help you! 🙂


1. Natural sunlight

Natural sunlight is a quick and effective mood booster. It encourages Vitamin D production and helps to protect you from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Natural sunlight also helps to keep you awake when you are feeling sleepy. Just open your curtains and let the the sunshine in!

2. Drink more water

Here’s one I personally struggle with. If you’re dehydrated, you might feel even more tired. While it’s essential to drink enough water each day, you need to drink a bit more when you are feeling sleepy and tired to stay awake. Drinking a glass of cold water is a great way to refresh yourself on a hot summer day and to stay more alert when you are tired.

3. Eat the right foods

When you’re feeling sleepy, it’s important to pay attention to your body. Don’t skip breakfast and avoid the intake of unhealthy fatty foods. Try eating mini meals throughout the day which are rich in protein, and avoid coffee and energy drinks.

4. Take a walk

Sitting down won’t help you stay awake. When you feel very sleepy, go for a walk even if you have lots of tasks to accomplish. It really is a great way to stay awake when you are feeling sleepy and tired. If you are at work and you are not allowed to go too far, then go get a drink or walk to a your coworker’s desk.

5. Take deep breaths

A breathing technique can also help you stay awake. Start breathing in and out through your nose and pull your stomach toward your diaphragm. Try to do this quickly to feel more alert. You can even do it on your lunch break!

6. Listen to upbeat music

Listening to upbeat music that puts a spring in your step will help you feel alert in no time. Avoid listening to relaxing music, such as classic music as it can make you sleepier. I often use this when I’m walking to class and it totally works! “Billie Jean” wakes me right up. 😉

7. Get active

Spending the whole day in front of the computer or TV can make feel tired and sleepy. To keep you feeling awake, your body needs to keep active. Get up and stretch your legs every 30 minutes to feel more alert during the day.

8. Fresh air

When you are feeling sleepy, a breath of fresh air might be something you need to feel more alert. If you’re at work, open the windows or get outside during your break or lunch time. If you are in the car, open a window to refresh the air in your car as often as possible. Sometimes opening the window during a road trip helps you stay awake too!

9. Take a shower

Obviously be clean! 😉 If you’re working from home and you need to stay awake, then take a shower. If you’re at work and you can’t take a shower, splash your face with cold water to wake up and feel more alert. It can be hard to do, but it could definitely help you feel less sleepy.

10. Take a nap

Sure, taking a nap isn’t for everyone when it comes to staying awake when feeling sleepy and tired, but it can help you a lot. Even if it’s only 15-20 minutes, a power nap can do wonders. However, there are people who feel sleepier after the nap. Sometimes it can take up to 30 minutes to get rid of that sleepy feeling after the nap.


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When we’re tired we usually reach for coffee and energy drinks. Usually, these work for about an hour and then we crash again. Try out a few of these tips and see if they work for you! If you have any other tips for staying awake when you are feeling sleepy, feel free to share them in a comment below! You might help someone without even knowing it. 🙂

By the way, check out my breakfast from yesterday….

Swirl to the MAX.

Chocolate and peanut butter SWIRRRRRL. 🙂

Have a fantabulous day!

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