How do I help myself stay awake in the afternoon?

[Bernard]

It's not tea. Physical activity will help perk you up, without any of the possible ill effects you get from caffeine. I will think wakeful thoughts at you real hard, let's see if that does anything. Don't wear a tinfoil hat, if you have one. It might block my vibes.

[donblood]

Oh, forgot to mention - if you want to walk around outside without the smoking, walk around fast.  It'll get you more awaker and you won't want to smoke.

[clare]

And have a look at this article on caffeine....
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/10/19/2718261.htm?site=science/askanexpert&topic=health

which isn't strictly related, but I couldn't be arsed finding the thread where we were talking about caff consumption the other day.

Also, drink more water, just in case you missed the memo.

[Bernard]

True -- I used to be able to drink a lot of tea and not get too wired, but when I cut way back I felt like ass for a while.

[alistarr*]

fuckin' drink less alcohol the night before and more water the day after. you already diagnosed your problem right there in the first post - you're dehydrated from drinking beer/coffee instead of water and overly tired from alcohol-sleep not being the same as real sleep. walking around is good for your health and focusing on stuff that's not your computer screen is definitely good for your eyes, but they're at best going to cover up for your underlying problem with regard to tiredness, which is not going to go away if you're drinking several beers several nights a week and then attacking that with coffee and computer screens the morning after.

sorry for being brusque.. nobody else was really doing it. i guess i feel bad thinking that you're walkin' round feeling unhappy for daft reasons. please don't think i'm trying to be rude.

also quit smoking, jerk.

[alistarr*]

once you've done all that stuff i can recommend fresh fruit as an afternoon snack - helps me truck on to hometime a lot better than other foodstuffs.

[elpollodiablo]

You'll notice he had nothing to say about the video games until 2am, though

[alistarr*]

i'm not going to edit my post but reading it back now i do feel that it was overly self-righteous, so i must apologise for that - saying "don't think i'm being rude" at the end there doesn't really excuse a dickish tone.

i missed the bit about videogames - yeah, while i'm already being a self-satisfied cunt i can happily report that going to bed around 10pm works well for me, and i get thoroughly distressed by about dinner time the next day if i stay up late and then have to work all day.

[edison]

I have to agree with those who said that just walking around and stretching your legs in the cold for a few minutes every couple of hours or so can do wonders, yes. (Winter is so awesome!)

(I also have to agree with the few people who implied that maybe it isn't such a good idea at all to drink so much, at the risk of sounding like an asshole)

[YojimboMonkey]

haha alistarr* I thought your post was great, except for the "sorry about being brusque" part.  I especially liked the part where you called me a jerk

I guess I am getting kind of old and probably shouldn't have so many unhealthy habits but fuckit

[YojimboMonkey]

And have a look at this article on caffeine....
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/10/19/2718261.htm?site=science/askanexpert&topic=health

so basically this article says cutting down on caffeine is a BAD thing, take that you healthy-living FUCKS! 

[elpollodiablo]

I mean have you considered just scoring a teener of strawberry quick?

[YojimboMonkey]

Is that a drug reference?  Are you talking about getting all hopped up on goofballs?

you kids and your hip lingo

[donblood]

No I think he was actually talking about strawberry quik, shit works wonders.

[elpollodiablo]

Hard to find it in teeners, though

[Snarfyguy]

It seems to me that the crux of the issue here is that YojimboMonkey doesn't appear to be permitted, or otherwise enabled, to nap at work.

Where it's at all possible, I would urge everyone to nap at work.

[YojimboMonkey]

I have often recommended a sanctioned afternoon naptime in the office as well but they aren't biting

on the plus side, I was told earlier in a meeting "you are never leaving this company" (it was only slightly ominous) so I guess I could probably just take a nap without getting fired if I take them at their word

[diesel_powered]

This guy never seemed to struggle with daytime sleepiness:



Sayin.

[FreddyKnuckles]

My work provides me with free coffee of the pod variety which means that at any point during the day I have fresh brewed delicious coffee instanty at disposal

[diesel_powered]

My last job had that, but I never took advantage of it since I didn't want to stand around using pod after pod to fill my thermos.

[Good Intentions]

I solve my mid-afternoon drowsiness with a cup of coffee, but I only drink two cups a day, and only double espressoes (well, anything less doesn't really count as coffee in my book, I should add). It's a form of restraint, but a different type than not staying up and not drinking, but it serves me well: rational my use of my chemical crutch has worked out very well for me the past three or four years, including many days like Jim describes, the post-late-night shenanigans type.

[lastclearchance]

My work provides me with free coffee of the pod variety which means that at any point during the day I have fresh brewed delicious coffee instanty at disposal

aint that fresh (or that delicious) if it came from a pod </snob> (i drink pods at work too)

[mountmccabe]

Don't overeat at lunch.

I also will sign the petitions that recommend drinking lots of water and also some walking around and such.

Also music.  I keep awake by engaging with the music I'm playing, playing something different or playing something the same in a different fashion.

[FreddyKnuckles]

My work provides me with free coffee of the pod variety which means that at any point during the day I have fresh brewed delicious coffee instanty at disposal

aint that fresh (or that delicious) if it came from a pod </snob> (i drink pods at work too)

Yeah its not as good as the stuff that I grind right before I brew at home, but it is much more fresh/delicious than say, your average tub of folgers.

[elpollodiablo]

So I drank about 3/4 of a pot of black coffee yesterday without realizing it. Last night was one of the shittiest nights of sleep I've ever had. Plus I accidentally popped my shoulder out of its socket this morning. Fun!