How to Avoid Sleepiness at Work

It can be tough enough devoting eight hours a day to your job. The last thing you want is the added stress of trying to stay awake! Not only does your work performance suffer, but so does your health. Here’s how to avoid sleepiness at work, simply and effectively.

Instructions

1. Get plenty of sleep the night before. Sure it sounds like an obvious solution, but most of us don’t do it. Instead of getting the seven or eight hours we need to thrive the next day, most of us just survive on five or six. If it’s a hard habit to break, start by getting in bed seven or eight hours before you need to get up. Watch TV or read if you must, but just being in bed will signal your brain and body to start shutting down. Over time, if you stick with it, you should start falling asleep earlier and earlier.

2. Take a walk to avoid sleepiness at work. Getting away from your desk or work area and out of the building will rejuvenate your senses. Even if all you have time for is a quick step outside for a breath of fresh air, you’ll feel more awake when you get back to work.

3. Eat out. Even if you bring your lunch, get away from your desk and, preferably, out of the office. A change of environment for thirty minutes to an hour will do wonders for your mind, body and soul.

4. Stretch. Two or three times a day, stand up and move around. Reach, bend, twist and touch your toes to keep that blood flowing, letting your brain and body know that despite sitting stationary for up to eight hours a day, you are still awake!

5. Socialize. Step away from work now and then to talk to your co-workers and supervisors. Not only will it wake you up, but also strengthen your work relationships. Keep the conversation work-related and technically you're still working.

Tips & Warnings

• • Don’t wait until you’re already sleepy to practice Steps One through Five. Work them into a daily routine to avoid sleepiness at work.