This article will discuss tips on how you can stay awake when you’re feeling too sleepy. It will also go over the prescription medications that healthcare providers may prescribe to help with excessive sleepiness.
Sleep restriction will increase your desire to sleep and could cause you to fall asleep when you want to be awake.
If you have an underlying sleep disorder that keeps you from getting enough sleep, talk to your healthcare provider.
To keep this from happening, take frequent short breaks when working. Making time for short breaks will allow you to focus better when you get back to work. A break is especially helpful if you feel sleepy after your midday meal.
Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and soda are popular caffeinated drinks. You can also get some caffeine from foods like chocolate.
For example, you might find that breaking larger projects into smaller tasks and working at them in short, scheduled bursts can help you get more work done.
Trying to stay focused for a long time can be exhausting. By shifting your focus, you can be more attentive when tackling new tasks.
Stepping out to get some fresh air when you’re feeling really sleepy can help you feel more awake.
If you have a circadian rhythm disorder or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), properly timed exposure to natural light, or even using a light box, can help.
In many societies, having a middle-of-the-day rest is part of everyone’s daily activities.
Needing longer naps (lasting multiple hours) may mean that you aren’t getting enough nighttime sleep. It can also be a sign that you have a sleep disorder.
Sugary foods and those with caffeine can make you feel more alert, but they can also make you “crash.”
Instead, choose light, nutritious snacks and keep an eye on portions. The extra calories from snacking can contribute to weight gain over time.
Sedentary activities like sitting in a conference room, driving long distances, or being at your desk for hours on end can easily make you drowsy.
You’d be less likely to find yourself dozing off while going for a walk, cleaning the house, or running errands.
Taking a break from sedentary activities by exercising or doing other physical activities can relieve sleepiness.
When you got back to work, your thinking will be clearer and you’ll hopefully feel less drowsy.
Turning down the temperature to 68 degrees F or even a few degrees cooler will help you to stay alert.
Examples of these medications are Ritalin (methylphenidate), Provigil (modafinil), and Nuvigil (armodafinil).
Stimulant medications act on the brain to help you pay attention and remain alert. However, they can be addictive and are rarely used to treat excessive daytime sleepiness.
Prescription medicines can also be used to treat narcolepsy, severe sleep apnea, or chronic conditions that cause extreme fatigue (like multiple sclerosis).
Having a short nap, getting some fresh air, enjoying natural light, lowering the temperature in the room, or engaging in a bit of physical activity can also help you stay awake during the day.
If you have a severe sleep disorder, your provider may prescribe medications to help you feel less sleepy. However, these medications come with risks that you’ll need to talk with them about.
A Word From Verywell
Making a few simple changes to your lifestyle or the way you work is often enough to combat daytime sleepiness.
If they’re not helping and you’re still having a hard time staying awake, talk to your provider. They can figure out what’s causing you to have trouble staying awake and alert during the day and make sure you get the right treatment.
That said, avoid activities that will stimulate your brain. Instead, do something relaxing, like reading a book or taking a warm bath. Once you feel sleepy, head back to bed.
You might be tempted to eat, change up the AC, or change radio stations to stay awake, but these actions can actually distract you even more than being drowsy. If you can’t stay focused on the road, it’s time to stop and rest.
