How to Wake Up a Sleeping Friend

Because you do not want to startle or shock someone you care about, banging together pots and pans is not a viable option for waking him up. Wake up a sleeping friend in such a way that lets him slowly slip out of his slumber and allows him to gently become aware of his surroundings. Adding a touch of sensitivity to how you wake up your friend is easy, but can make a dramatic difference in your friend's day.

Things You'll Need

• Sleeping friend
• Shoes

Instructions

1. Move. Go about your daily routine as though everyone in the house or apartment is awake. By making coffee, doing dishes and walking around your house or apartment you may generate enough noise to wake a sleeping friend indirectly.

2. Walk heavy. Avoid tiptoeing around the house or apartment. Walk past the area where your friend is sleeping and let the sound of your shoes hitting the floor create just enough noise to wake them.

3. Knock on the door or door jam of where he is sleeping and say his name.

4. Walk into the room and make a little bit of noise. For example, allow your pants swish and shoes click. These subtle noises will create just enough noise to wake them without scaring them.

5. Pretend to look for something in his room. Shuffle through bookshelves, open drawers and pretend that you are looking for something.

6. Say his name and lightly touch his shoulder. How gently you do this depends on your relationship with the person and how urgently you need him.

Tips & Warnings

• Unless it is an emergency, avoid shaking someone awake or pouring water on your friend. This may cause them to panic or become angry with you.

• Try to imagine how your friend would feel when he wakes up and work to wake him in the most gentle way imaginable.

• Place an alarm clock in the room where your friend will be staying to let him control how and when he wakes up.

• According to researchers at Harvard Medical School, sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate and moodiness. Too little sleep can also leave you too tired to do the things you like to do. Make sure your friend has had a sufficient amount of time to rest before waking him.

References

• Harvard Medical School: Importance of Sleep: Six Reasons Not to Scrimp on Sleep

Resources

• Harvard Medical School: Improving Sleep: A Guide to a Good Night's Rest