6. Grab a quick bite, but choose wisely. A recent study in the journal Neuron showed that protein stimulates orexin cells in the brain, which send electrical impulses that keep us alert and wakeful. By comparison, eating a carbohydrate-rich snack boosts your blood sugar and then lowers it just as fast, which can induce that drowsy, can’t-keep-your-eyes open feeling. Quick, work-friendly high-protein bites include a hard-boiled egg, a cup of Greek yogurt, or a handful of pumpkin seeds. 5. Use the power of Smells Use your sense of smell. A pungent scent — good or bad — can make you more alert very quickly. Aromatherapists often recommend essential oils of the following plants to stimulate the nervous system and reduce fatigue. Take a big whiff of the following when you’re feeling drowsy: - Rosemary. - Eucalyptus blue gum. - Peppermint. - Coffee. Beans or brewed, both work: a study has shown that simply smelling coffee can awaken a person. - Of course, not all of us have essential oils stored in our file cabinets. Using hand lotions or burning candles with these same scents could help. Herbs like rosemary and peppermint can often be found fresh or dried at a grocery store; for a little pick-me-up, take a pinch and roll it between your fingertips and smell it. 4. Small caffeine breaks. Toss the Red Bulls and Monsters. Slugging those down to get alert is like fighting Jon Jones to get in shape- you’re gonna have a crazy energy rush and get knocked out just as fast. Research suggests that small, frequent doses of caffeine—like tea breaks, caffeinated mints, and even chocolate—do a better job of keeping your brain from feeling fatigued than jitter-inducing java. 3. Use acupressure. Massaging any of the following points will improve circulation and ease fatigue: - The top of your head. Lightly tap it with your fingertip or use a scalp massager. - The back of your neck. - Back of your hands. Right between the thumb and index finger is best. - Just below the knees. - Earlobes. 2. Maximize lighting British Ministry of Defence researchers have been able to reset soldiers’ body clocks so they can go without sleep for up to 36 hrs. Tiny optical fibres embedded in special spectacles project a ring of bright white light (with a spectrum identical to a sunrise) around the edge of soldiers’ retinas, fooling them into thinking they have just woken up. The system was first used on US pilots during the bombing of Kosovo. 1. Take a power (caffeine) nap. Scientists say that a successful midday nap depends on two things: timing and (no kidding) caffeine consumption. Experiments performed at Loughborough University in the UK showed that the sleep-deprived need only a cup of coffee and 15 minutes of shut-eye to feel amazingly refreshed. 1. Right before you crash, down a cup of java. The caffeine has to travel through your gastro-intestinal tract, giving you time to nap before it kicks in. 2. Close your eyes and relax. Even if you only doze, you’ll get what’s known as effective microsleep, or momentary lapses of wakefulness. 3. Limit your nap to 15 minutes. A half hour can lead to sleep inertia, or the spinning down of the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which handles functions like judgment. This gray matter can take 30 minutes to reboot. Source
A. I want a pair of these power glasses. B. I am a big believer in power naps. Why do they have to come in the middle of chemistry class???
