In a perfect world, everyone would get a full eight hours of sleep at night and feel awake and ready to go throughout their day at work. In reality, however, just about everyone has experienced the feeling of exhaustion in the workplace. This is not only bad for productivity, but it can also be extremely dangerous in many lines of work. Finding effective ways to stay awake at work is critical. As with most things, every option will have different advantages and disadvantages that need to be taken into account.Tips for Staying AlertProven Options for Staying Awake at Work If you are at work and feeling tired, try one or more of the following options that have been proven to help people perk up at work:Eat some Fruit – Fruit will help to give you some quick energy because it is filled with natural sugars. It is much healthier than a candy bar and won’t lead to the crash. Snacking on one piece of fruit every 20-30 minutes can be very effective.Drink Water – Many people feel tired because they are dehydrated. Drinking water can really help you to wake up quickly. If possible, drink cold water to make it even more effective.Turn Up the AC – Cold air helps to push your body into generating heat to stay warm, which will help keep you from feeling tired.Caffeine – Coffee, tea, or even a diet soda can give you a nice burst of energy because of the caffeine. There are some health concerns (especially with the soda), but when you really need to wake up, there are few things more effective.Exercise – If you’re feeling tired at work, step away for a break and run up and down the stairs a time or two. This will quickly wake you up and can help you stay alert for quite a while.Music – Listen to your favorite music to stay alert. Some data suggests that jazz music is especially effective at waking you up because the music moves all over the place and doesn’t follow a rhythmic beat.Take a Nap – Taking a 30-minute lunch break and sleeping can be very effective. Brief ‘power naps’ can really help give you the energy you need to get through the rest of the day.Of course, the best way to avoid feeling tired at work is to make sure you get enough sleep at night. When possible, stick to a good sleep schedule, get a bed that helps you to sleep soundly, and take whatever other steps are necessary to get a good night’s sleep. Similar Questions What are the safety concerns associated with working shifts?What is rotational shiftwork?Is there a way to fall safely?Is Rotating Shiftwork Unhealthy?How are accidents at the workplace prevented?What does AED stand for?What are the benefits of a Safety and Health Program?What are hazard controls?What are the Metrics that can be Used to Measure Workplace Safety?Additional Resources Heat Exhaustion and the Dangers of High Temperature ExposureReturning to Work SafelyCalculating Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)Forklift SafetyTypical Lockout Tagout Procedures

What are ways to stay awake at work?

Workplace Safety

In a perfect world, everyone would get a full eight hours of sleep at night and feel awake and ready to go throughout their day at work. In reality, however, just about everyone has experienced the feeling of exhaustion in the workplace. This is not only bad for productivity, but it can also be extremely dangerous in many lines of work. Finding effective ways to stay awake at work is critical. As with most things, every option will have different advantages and disadvantages that need to be taken into account.

Tips for Staying Alert

Proven Options for Staying Awake at Work If you are at work and feeling tired, try one or more of the following options that have been proven to help people perk up at work:

Eat some Fruit – Fruit will help to give you some quick energy because it is filled with natural sugars. It is much healthier than a candy bar and won’t lead to the crash. Snacking on one piece of fruit every 20-30 minutes can be very effective.
Drink Water – Many people feel tired because they are dehydrated. Drinking water can really help you to wake up quickly. If possible, drink cold water to make it even more effective.
Turn Up the AC – Cold air helps to push your body into generating heat to stay warm, which will help keep you from feeling tired.
Caffeine – Coffee, tea, or even a diet soda can give you a nice burst of energy because of the caffeine. There are some health concerns (especially with the soda), but when you really need to wake up, there are few things more effective.
Exercise – If you’re feeling tired at work, step away for a break and run up and down the stairs a time or two. This will quickly wake you up and can help you stay alert for quite a while.
Music – Listen to your favorite music to stay alert. Some data suggests that jazz music is especially effective at waking you up because the music moves all over the place and doesn’t follow a rhythmic beat.
Take a Nap – Taking a 30-minute lunch break and sleeping can be very effective. Brief ‘power naps’ can really help give you the energy you need to get through the rest of the day.

Of course, the best way to avoid feeling tired at work is to make sure you get enough sleep at night. When possible, stick to a good sleep schedule, get a bed that helps you to sleep soundly, and take whatever other steps are necessary to get a good night’s sleep.