The most dreaded week after holidays, returning back to school or work and the attempt to get you back into a proper sleeping pattern. Days of sleeping late and sleeping in are now on hold till weekends, or until your next break. In the meantime, how can one expect to function properly during the daylight hours, with so little rest from the night before? Whether you need to stay awake in class or at work, here are some tips compiled to help you stay awake, while maintaining healthy lifestyle.

Tips to stay awake

Eat Breakfast - Having a healthy breakfast is a good way to get your metabolism and energy up and running for your day. Many people skip having breakfast in busy morning. However, skipping out may leave you unfocused, and unable to concentrate or stay awake until lunch.

Cold Water – Splash your face with cold water in the morning. Not only does this wake you up, but it also helps to close your pores from the pollutant elements in the air. During the day, if you feel tired, drink or splash your face again with cold water.

Caffeine – A common solution in society today to stay awake. Coffee and tea have become our main options, and for your health, tea is better than coffee. Many people these days are making it a point to cut coffee from their diet for health reasons. While tea is a better, cheaper, and a healthier choice for a caffeine source, one cup of coffee a day is okay compared to three cups in one day. Energy drinks are heavily marketed these days.

Energy Drink – Don’t get tricked by manufacturers’ hype and avoid relying on these products. These may cause side effects such as vomit, nausea or irregular heartbeats. Also think about how it works. What it does is that it stimulates you to bring and use your energy for tomorrow. How would you stay tomorrow? This is why many people still feel tired the next day and this cycles over and over.

Music – Music has been studied and known to affect a person’s mood. We get it all the time in movies, shopping, etc. Listening to upbeat, fast-track sounds are great wake up music (avoid soft & slow music, like jazz or classical). Either between classes, transiting or in the work place with headphones can help you stay awake, rather than silence which can be boring.

Snacking – Healthy snacks: Granola bars, cold veggies, nuts, etc. Work that requires a lot of thinking and a lot of concentration uses a lot of brainpower. Keep the energy going and stay awake by gradual consumption of munchies.

Exercise – A bit of light cardio in morning is a good way to get the blood pumping and your metabolism going. Just remember to have a bite after to replenish the energy you used.

Napping – (Not mandatory) It’s not a bad thing if you have time and you need to rest your eyes. A nap 15 – 30 minutes is best for a power nap, making you feel energized and refreshed when you get up. Anything longer will make you feel even more tired and lazy.

Gadgets – There are products available in the market to help you stay awake. One of the keep awake gadgets is the Wink Glasses. It is a glasses with a sensor that stimulates your brain to keep awake whenever you are about to doze off. Another gadget is Aroma Diffuser. Place it on your desk and enjoy the natural smell of essential oils. This not only kills bacterias near you but also refresh your brain.

Click Here to read more about the Wink Glasses

Click Here to read more about the Aroma Diffuser

How to stay awake: in class or at work