I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night. I went to bed late and then around 5:00 a.m., my cat, Gizmo, decided that we should both get up and play with a crumpled up piece of paper. This is currently Gizmo’s favorite toy, so he was excited by this idea. I thought we should sleep for a couple more hours instead, but I was overruled. (You just can’t argue with Gizmo.) So as a result, I’m feeling a little tired today.

And I know I’m not the only one who has tired days. A few of you might be feeling a little sleep deprived at the moment too. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can cause us to lose sleep. But we still need to get up in the morning, get to work, be productive, and get things done.

Luckily, author Wendy Rose Gould has some tips to help make this process a little easier. She suggests that we try the following:

  • Go outside (or look out your window) – Nature is very rejuvenating and restorative. Fresh air can wake you up and natural sunlight can help to regulate your natural circadian rhythm. So step outside for a few minutes, open your window, or just look out the window. A little bit of nature goes a long way.
  • Eat healthy, balanced meals – Don’t reach for that doughnut or candy bar. Try to avoid eating sugary foods that will give you a brief sugar rush, and then will cause you to come crashing down shortly thereafter. Better food options include things like oatmeal, eggs, fruit, fish, and nuts.
  • Take a short nap – Personally, I hate napping. But I know a lot of people who find a brief nap to be really helpful when they’re feeling exhausted during the day. If you do decide to take a nap, try to limit yourself to 20 minutes. That should be just enough to perk you up.
  • Get some exercise – I know you’re tired. But getting some exercise will actually help to energize you, and make you feel more focused and alert. Take a walk around the block or dance around the room. Any form of exercise will do the trick.
  • Drink some coffee (but not too much) – Caffeine can help to wake you up, but don’t ingest too much. Drinking too much coffee or tea can make you feel sick and jittery (and it might make it harder for you to get to sleep in the evening).
  • Don’t make any big, important decisions – Sleep deprivation can hamper your ability to think logically and critically. So if you can spend the day doing easy tasks, that would probably be best. Do the complex, high-level, analytical work tomorrow, when you’re feeling more rested!

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Gould, W. R. (2018, February 23). How to get through a day on no sleep. Better by Today. Retrieved from: https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/how-get-through-day-no-sleep-ncna850781