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7 WAYS TO CARRY ON WITH YOUR DAY WHEN EXHAUSTED

Written by Menswear Style in Health & Fitness on the 23rd March 2021

Everybody knows they are supposed to get about eight hours of sleep at night, but just because you know you should it doesn’t mean it always works out that way. Whether you stayed out a little too late, you stayed up a little too late watching Netflix, or you’re taking turns taking care of the baby, there are going to be times in your life when you have to make it through the next day having gotten next to no sleep the night before. If you’re lucky, you can take the day off and sleep in. Unfortunately, for most of us, we have to carry on with our day as if nothing happened. Here’s how to make it work without being completely miserable.

Consider a Different Way To Work

If you’re really tired, you may already be running late to work. However, it might be a good idea to consider a different way to work. Asking a family member to drive you, calling a coworker and asking for a ride, calling an Uber, or taking the bus are all safer options that will help you avoid getting into an accident. Although catching a ride is the best option, it may not be an option for you. If driving yourself is the only way you can get to work, or if you drive a truck and you have to hit the road when you're feeling easily distracted, you’ll have to focus on ways to drive safely, which might include drinking coffee.

Drink Some Coffee

It’s not the best idea to guzzle down gallons of coffee all day long in order to stay awake and make it through the day, but there are actually some great health benefits to drinking coffee when you do it sparingly. One is that it can improve your energy, but it can also boost your mood. The key is to use coffee strategically throughout your day to make the most of the energy it provides. For example, if you have to drive to work, make sure you drink a cup before you take off in the morning. You may also want to drink a cup before an important meeting or before you start an important project.

Get Some Exercise

If you’re feeling tired, the last thing you probably want to do is get some exercise. However, it has the ability to make you feel more energised. Not to mention, it can help you get better sleep at night, which will help you feel more like yourself the next day. Hitting the gym, running, and lifting heavy weights are options, but if you’re feeling tired and sluggish, don’t think you have to do a hard workout. Instead, try:

- Going for a walk

- Stretching

- Lifting light weights

- Swimming

Stand While You Work

If you’re at work feeling like you could pass out at your desk any minute, continuing to sit there and stare at a computer monitor isn’t going to help. Instead, you should get up on your feet. Using a standing desk can keep you on your feet throughout the day, helping you stay awake and keeping you more active. If you don’t have a standing desk, try standing up throughout the day for tasks that don’t require you to sit down. Consider eating your lunch standing up or taking notes while you take a short walk around the office. It is important to listen to your body, though. If you’re feeling completely exhausted, forcing yourself to stand when you should be resting is not a good idea. It’s also not a good idea to suddenly stand all day if you’re used to sitting all day, as it can end up making you too tired and sore to tackle the next day.

Take a Power Nap

You can only fight fatigue for so long. If coffee isn’t doing it, you’re too tired to stand, and you can’t even fathom doing light exercise, it’s time to give in to your feelings of tiredness and take a nap. A two-hour nap might sound like heaven, but it probably isn’t practical. If you’re at work or you have kids, you’ll have to shorten your nap and take a power nap instead. A power nap may only last 10 or 20 minutes, but it can really make a huge difference in your day. Make the most of your power nap by finding a safe, quiet place to take a snooze, and try and take it between lunch and 3:00 PM.

Snack

Are you used to eating just a few large, heavy meals throughout the day? Although it’s normal for many people to eat a big breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it’s much better to eat smaller snacks throughout the day if you’re feeling really tired. You need food to provide you with enough energy to make it through the day, but eating too much food at once can make you crash. It’s much better to fuel your body with a little bit of something to eat every few hours than it is to try and make it through on an empty stomach between lunch and dinner.

Keep Things Bright

If you’re feeling sluggish, the only thing you probably want to do is curl up in the dark. Although a dark environment sounds relaxing, it will end up lulling you to sleep, which isn’t good if you don’t have time to catch some Z’s. Instead, try and make sure you’re in as bright of an environment as possible. Natural sunlight is the very best for energising you when you feel tired. Turn on extra lights if you have to and you’ll find it’s a little bit easier to keep your eyes open. If you didn’t get a lot of sleep the night before and you’re able to sleep in, go for it! However, if you have to carry on with your day, the things on this list will help you keep your eyes open.