How can I stay awake doing my volunteer work.?
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Answers:
What kind of volunteer work are you doing that you have to be awake 36 hours? My record for staying awake is 31 hours and that's with a very brief (I hope) nap lasting about 30 seconds after 26 hours. I'd suggest trying to get out of it, or perhaps offering to do a 12 hour shift, then return in 8-10 hours for another 12 hour shift. That would about cover the 36 hours and still give you a chance to let your body recharge.
If there's no way out of this, some tips include:
1. Limit lots of sugar; it can give you a quick high but then you dip again.
2. Eat high protein foods regularly (meats, cheese, peanut butter) as well as complex carbs (whole wheat, high fibre stuff). These will give you more energy over a longer period of time than junk food. Caffeine can help a bit, although some people find it makes them jittery and irritable.
3. Take walks outside during your daytime breaks-to let your internal clock know when it's daytime. If you're really tired at night, a brisk walk outside or doing some stairs may help.
4. Keep busy. Don't just sit, other than at your break times, if you can help it. Offer to stock shelves, run errands, whatever. When you sit, it usually gets harder to get up and moving again. The quick nap I took on the job occurred when I sat down after being awake 28 hours. I had somewhere to rest my head and that was the end of me. It was harder to work while sitting than it was to be on my feet all night.
5. Expect to hit a wall. When I worked overnight shifts, the wall hit about 3am and lasted 'til about 5am and then I got another energy burst and was all right again.
6. During your breaks, if you can grab a 15-20 minute nap (pack an alarm clock!), do so. That 20 minutes can be enough to get you moving again. Sleep much longer and you could go too deep and then be even more tired.
7. Get as much rest as possible leading up to your shift.
8. A few friends have found that eating sunflower seeds can really help-the continual hand-to-mouth action of eating the seeds and taking the outer shell out of the mouth keeps them alert. Make sure you're allowed to eat before trying this.
9. Splash cool water on your face when you go to the bathroom or anytime you're feeling drowsy.
10. Make sure when you get off your shift you don't go and sleep all day-you may mess up your sleep schedule even more. Allow a two or three hour nap, then go to bed at your regular time that night.
11. Ask the nurses and doctors you're working with how they handle long shifts; they may have some really good tips for you.
Good luck!
If you keep a constant supply of sugary candy it might help - but outside of taking any pills like Vivarin, you could drink alot of water so your bladder is either full or you're busy drinking to fill it again - I know it seems silly but when I am really tired and driving a long distance the water thing does it for me.
Good Luck -
Keep active and don't sit around. No heavy meals but plenty of snacks. God recomendations work too.
Drink a ROCKSTARRRR!
I hear Crystal Meth works pretty good for keeping you awake.
get a lot of sleep the night before
dont drink milk or eat youghort cuz they make you sleepy
try warm drinks like tea and coffee
eat chocolate
and if your not into junk
take some little healthy things like almonds and sultanas and dried fruit with u and just nibble on them
eating keeps me awake when im studyin during exams.
but if u have too much junk.. the high amount of sugar will give you energy but after half hour will make u even more tired.
healthier stuff slowly release energy
honey is a great one too..
have a honey sandwich :)
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