Any suggestions on staying alert when sleep deprived?

[lsres]

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What suggestions do you have to stay alert when sleep deprived other than exercise and caffeine? I feel much more alert after exercising but that is not always possible and the effect of caffeine wears out after a while. Sometimes after sitting for a while I find it hard to stay awake and concentrate. Then when I get up and need to talk I am not as sharp as I want to be.

 

[Bobblehead]

Sleep. Take a 20 minute nap.

 

[Faebinder]

Gosh if I exercise I become sleepy.

Coffee on the other hand does miracles... Go for multiple cups a night. Don't drink some flimsy foam cup... take a real sized cup... take 2.

 

[sirus_virus]

What suggestions do you have to stay alert when sleep deprived other than exercise and caffeine? I feel much more alert after exercising but that is not always possible and the effect of caffeine wears out after a while. Sometimes after sitting for a while I find it hard to stay awake and concentrate. Then when I get up and need to talk I am not as sharp as I want to be.

This is why I support making it illegal to work in a hospital past a certain number of hours. You are fighting nature, and nature will will nine out of ten times.

 

[raidermedic]

The downside to coffee is that if you drink a few cups to try and stay awake then suddenly find yourself with a few hours downtime you will not be able to fall asleep.

 

[Faebinder]

The downside to coffee is that if you drink a few cups to try and stay awake then suddenly find yourself with a few hours downtime you will not be able to fall asleep.

Ya can't win em all.

Pass the coffee please. 😎

 

[mig26x]

red bull is my best friend.

 

[fuzzyerin]

The fatigue video my program made us watch as interns instructed us to "dose caffeine pharmacologically" ~ that was all I remember. For the rest of the video, my colleagues and I were asleep.

Dosing caffeine pharmacologically has become quite a joke in my program though!

 

[JackBauERfan]

What suggestions do you have to stay alert when sleep deprived other than exercise and caffeine? I feel much more alert after exercising but that is not always possible and the effect of caffeine wears out after a while. Sometimes after sitting for a while I find it hard to stay awake and concentrate. Then when I get up and need to talk I am not as sharp as I want to be.

chewing gum or a jolly rancher helps me haha.

 

[McGillGrad]

I forgot the name of the medication, but it is a non-addictive, non-amphetamine based wake-up pill. Kind of expensive, though.

 

[deleted6669]

the clifbar company makes a product called "clifshot blocks" which are little gummy bear like things. they come 6/package. each 3 blocks has 50 mg/caffiene + a decent amount of electrolytes + carbs from natural brown rice sugar. I started using them on long distance runs(marathons, 50k ultras) and then started bringing them to work. I wolf a few if I can't take time out for a meal or cup of coffee and they really do the trick.
http://www.clifbar.com/eat/shot_blok.cfm?location=shot
of course washing them down with coffee is even better.....🙂

 

[3dtp]

Best way to be alert when sleep deprived is to fix the underlying problem. Get some sleep. Preferably 6-7 hours worth under a fluffy blanket, snuggled next to a ....well you get the idea.

 

[LovelyRita]

Nap. anywhere from 5 minutes to 20 minutes can improve things dramatically for me. Followed by a hot cup of vanilla-flavored coffee. 👍