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Stay Awake: How to Avoid Sleep
By Adelaide Kwaning You want to sleep but you can’t. You’ve got to stay awake. Oh but if you’ve could just close your eyes for a few minutes. WAKE UP! Ever been through this? You have to study for an exam or maybe you’re in the middle of an important meeting, but the only thing you can think about is sleeping. You’re drowsy and fatigued but you have to stay awake. What can you do? 1.Drink ice cold water. Your body can feel fatigued if you are dehydrated. Sometimes a cold drink is all you need to pep up again. 2. Eat Fruit. Apples are said to be better than a cup of coffee in the morning to keep you awake. The sweetness and tartness help to perk you up. 3. Use your nose. Whether it’s a good or bad, a strong scent can make you alert very quickly. Try these • rosemary • eucalyptus blue gum • peppermint (a study showed that smelling peppermint can lower fatigue by 15%, increase alertness by 30% and decrease frustration by 25% 4. Massage the following parts to help ease fatigue: • top of your head (lightly tap with your fingertip) • top of the back of your neck • back of your hands (between thumb and index finger) • just below the knees • earlobes[4] 5. Let in the light. Exposing yourself to bright light can help to regulate your body’s internal clock. Even if it’s cloudy looking out the window can help to make you more alert. 6. Exercise. Even if you’re sitting down at work doesn’t mean you can’t rotate your ankle, shoulders or do a few stretches. 7. Take a power nap. If you can, sleeping for 15-20min can recharge you. Avoid sleeping past this time frame though, you’ll become groggy. 8. Avoid a full stomach. If you must snack, try something like an apple, or raisins, blueberries, or sunflower seeds. 9. Avoid music with constant rhythms. Instead try Jazz, classic rock, orchestrated music, or listen to a song you’ve never heard before. Constant rhythms found in pop and RnB songs can increase your drowsy state. Don’t bother turning it up, it won’t help you stay awake. 10. Keep yourself uncomfortable. Stay on your feet as much as possible. If you have to sit down, get the most uncomfortable chair you can find. Make sure the back is upright, forcing you to sit up very straight. Don't allow your head to rest on anything--your hands, the desk, the wall. 11. Beware of the temperate. Being too warm can make you feel drowsy and fatigued but so can feeling too cold. A breeze is fine if you’re warm, like wise putting on a sweater is great if you’re chilly but avoid going to the extreme of any temperature. Th next time you feel like crawling under your work desk for a snooze, use the above tips to help stay awake.
Why you should avoid sleep deprivation
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