I get up early to go into work every day, and I often don't get enough sleep (usually 3-6 hours on weeknights). For the most part this isn't a problem since I make up for lost sleep on the weekends, but, driving into work is becoming dangerous. By late in the week I have trouble staying awake. I open the window and blast awesome music but that alone isn't enough I think. Today I almost didn't open my eyes back up while blinking.

The obvious solution is to have a glass of coffee in the morning but I don't drink coffee. I'm trying to avoid drinking caffeinated soda in the morning on a regular basis. What are some possible solutions to this problem? I'm seriously concerned an accident will happen eventually, but unfortunately I can't arrange to get more sleep on most nights.

Schones_Chaos

United States226 Posts

October 18 2007 02:57 GMT

Tea.

decafchicken

United States19921 Posts

October 18 2007 02:57 GMT

5 hour energy drink

seriously its fucking awesome

micronesia

United States24495 Posts

October 18 2007 02:59 GMT

Tea: I can try it but it doesn't seem to really work and is a bit of a pain. I'll get back to you.

Energy drink: every morning? Will I die?

Superiorwolf

United States5509 Posts

October 18 2007 03:01 GMT

caffeine pills

but ya you need more sleep anyways 3 hours is deathly low even if u 'make up for it' on weekends

fanatacist

10319 Posts

October 18 2007 03:02 GMT

Tea is good. Eating a full breakfast (one with carbohydrates, the most realiable source of long-term energy) is probably the best and healthiest solution, if sleeping more is impossible. I have a similar problem because I have insomnia to a degree.

I find energy drinks to lose effect after multiple uses and be unpleasant first thing in the morning if you want to stay awake for the whole day, because eventually almost everyone crashes (haha, pun not intended... Sorry that was a pretty bad one in this context...).

Sleep more if you can. Eat a full breakfast. Good luck.

EDIT: Hot tea, from those packets. I like Earl Grey Tea the best, but there are many different kinds you might like. It's personal preference.

I personally don't believe in OTC caffeine pills that you see at convenience stores, I once took like 6 and it had 0 effect. Can't be too healthy if it works for you either way.

OverTheUnder

United States2929 Posts

October 18 2007 03:07 GMT

i pretty much start off every week day with a can of monster;o

infinity21

Canada6683 Posts

October 18 2007 03:10 GMT

Or you can look at public transit if it's available. If you're feeling too tired near the end of the week just take public transit.

BuGzlToOnl

United States5918 Posts

October 18 2007 03:25 GMT

On October 18 2007 11:59 micronesia wrote:
Tea: I can try it but it doesn't seem to really work and is a bit of a pain. I'll get back to you.

Energy drink: every morning? Will I die?

I'm in the exact scenario as you are I average in about 5-6 hours a sleep EVERY day. But tea does work a lot I drink one cup in the morning and one cup before I go to bed and feel more refreshed. I work 7 days a week and am taking 18 credits in college.

You won't die from Energy drinks, my Bio proff. said that it's like taking a spoon full of sugar every time you take one. They don't really do much if you drink once or twice a week, but daily can have bad effects on your body, and you always crash at the end. Also try taking 30min. - 1 hour naps they help out an incredible amount (but don't forget to set an alarm if you have something to do later on T__T ).

Hope this helps.

micronesia

United States24495 Posts

October 18 2007 03:29 GMT

#10

Among the recent suggestions:

Get more sleep: Unfortunately I can't do much about this one. I often have late days, and when I get home I have crap to do at home plus plenty of work to do for the next day. First year teachers notoriously burn the midnight oil.

Have a full breakfast: This can't hurt and I try to do it but it will require more effort ahead of time.

Public Transit: Not available on a reasonable level in this case.

Caffeine pills: Hesitant to try this.

Energy Drink: Maybe in an emergency? I don't think it's good to drink one if you need to be aware for many hours.

BuGzlToOnl

United States5918 Posts

October 18 2007 03:30 GMT

#11

BTW on the tea Lipton and Celestial Seasonings is awesome, Green tea I think has the most caffeine in it, but make sure you don't get the decaffeinated ones, beats the purpose for you.

HonkHonkBeep

China353 Posts

October 18 2007 04:26 GMT

#12

What's the solution? Try sleeping more. If you can't barely open your eyes during a blink you're endangering me, as well as yourself. I don't care if some driver kills himself by driving on 3 hours of sleep but when you're on the road with me... Reminds me of that guy who said he drove drunk and sleepy and his lesson learned after crashing and nearly dying was "don't drive sleepy."

alffla

Hong Kong20321 Posts

October 18 2007 05:24 GMT

#13

wtf why u sleep so late

bad boy

Buffaloaf

United States48 Posts

October 18 2007 05:39 GMT

#14

Count sheep while you're driving, that'll keep your mind going.

Physician

United States4146 Posts

October 18 2007 05:46 GMT

#15

- caffeine will work only for a while.. not long term.. if u buy over the counter caffeine make sure u stay under 200 miligrams and you buy a extended release tablet..
- tea has caffeine too but around 20-30 mg per cup which might not be enough so you might have to drink more of it or make it more concentrated.. early morning concentrated tea will make you hurl eventually so add milk always it helps..
- the drug provigil, if u can get a doc to prescribe it for u, u can take as soon as u wake up is another artificial solution (stay under 200mg per day and only take as soon as u wake up froma night that you didnt sleep well).. but again drugs will also work for a while only..
- definitively stay away from ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and amphetamines like products... they are all horribly unhealthy for your body.

- of course sleeping well and 20 minutes morning exercise is the best.. but then you know that already..

let me look up for u another alternative.. one sec

Physician

United States4146 Posts

October 18 2007 06:04 GMT

#16

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/notag/drive-alarm-in-your-ear-keeping-you-awake-289586.php
http://www.globalsourcesdirect.com/servlet/the-1802/Nap-Zapper/Detail
http://www.made-in-china.com/china-products/productviewOIQnxKmCOEWo/Welkin-Nap-Zapper.html
http://www.okokchina.com/p/Alarms/Self-Defense-Unti-Drowsy-Alarm-433270.html
http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20060804/drive-alert-master/
http://www.gadgetuniverse.com/product_detail.asp?SKU=TE 332
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/07/ndrive07.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/04/07/ixhome.html

these are just a few.. there is more out there all different prices.. some even with electric shock that ends up giving u a strong reflex of not falling asleep at the wheel..

ur right about worrying about ur problem... its freaking dangerous and like u said.. sooner or later u will pay for nodding off

Broken.Mind

United States364 Posts

October 18 2007 06:17 GMT

#17

lol do everyone a favor and wake up before you kill someone -,-.

fanatacist

10319 Posts

October 18 2007 11:00 GMT

#18

On October 18 2007 12:30 BuGzlToOnl wrote:
BTW on the tea Lipton and Celestial Seasonings is awesome, Green tea I think has the most caffeine in it, but make sure you don't get the decaffeinated ones, beats the purpose for you.

I'm pretty sure black tea has the most.

To micronesia, eating a bowl of (good) cereal and having a glass of orange juice doesn't take any preparation and is easily a full breakfast by my standards n_n I like Honey Bunches of Oats, Nature Valley Cinnamon, and some of the Post Selects (out of the more "healthy" cereals that still taste good).