The Best Ways to Stay Awake Without Caffeine
Sleep can be unpleasant. When you’re desperate for some much-needed rest, you stare at the ceiling so warily you could probably pilot a moonship. But when you’re at work or in class and desperately need that level of wakefulness, you find yourself nodding your head and continuing to lose time in five-minute increments.
At times like these, it’s only natural to turn to our old friend caffeine. And hey, caffeine works ! Drinking coffee or an energy drink (or caffeine pills if you’re a heavy drinker) definitely gives you the short-term energy boost you need to get through that afternoon slump or that late-night rut you’re stuck in. This is not always the best option. While moderate doses may help you stay awake and may even provide some health benefits , too large doses can have a negative impact on your health, and even moderate doses can affect your overall sleep patterns, locking you into an endless cycle of fatigue and caffeine addiction. to get through the days.
It’s actually not that hard to stay awake without resorting to caffeine. If you’re a day sleeper or a long night sleeper and need to stay awake without it, here’s how to do it.
Water and snacks
Caffeine is a short-term solution to help you stay awake. The best option is to give yourself an energy boost with the two things your body needs for that energy: water and nutrition.
Fatigue is a classic symptom of dehydration, so drinking a little clean, cold water will likely put you in a more alert and alert state. Drinking enough water every day is not only very, very good for you , but it will also help you sleep better overall , so you don’t feel sleepy when you have to work.
If you’re looking for a more effective energy boost than a temporary burst of caffeine (or sugar), food is a good strategy: Your body is designed in many ways to generate energy. This is why having a pre-workout snack at the gym is so beneficial. Avoid sugar bombs and fatty, heavy foods that can make you feel logical, and choose high-protein snacks that include carbohydrates and fat. Carbs will boost your energy, and protein will help regulate how your body burns that energy. Instead of energy bars, eat some natural sugar with an apple, eat a salad for a boost of vitamins, or eat toast with peanut butter. An influx of healthy calories will make you feel more energetic.
Exercise and activity
If you’re dozing off at your desk, it might be time to take a break. Instead of grabbing another cup of coffee, get up and move around for a few minutes. Exercise increases your energy levels and reduces feelings of fatigue , and even a low-impact activity like a short walk can wake you up and sharpen your brain.
If you find it difficult to stay awake during daylight hours, consider going outside and sunbathing. Sunlight has powerful effects on the human body and has been shown to affect concentration and energy levels . In fact, simply being outside can improve your mental acuity , helping you stay awake and alert—so get up, go outside for fifteen minutes, and then get back to work.
Power is dormant
Finally, a counterintuitive way to stay awake without caffeine is to get some sleep. Powerful sleep can do wonders for your level of alertness and mental clarity, so if you find yourself dozing off, give in and get some sleep—not for long. This means setting an alarm to keep you awake for eight hours, lying on your desk, only to wake up to a meeting with staff and the inability to turn your head without excruciating pain.
You don’t need to sleep long : Just 10 minutes of REM sleep can have a huge positive effect, with 20 minutes considered the “ideal” length for REM sleep. Sleeping much longer than this may not do you any immediate benefit—and may disrupt your regular sleep schedule—but planning ahead and scheduling a longer nap (up to an hour) earlier in the day can help you avoid that feeling of sleepiness altogether.