Advertisement
We've all been there: whether it's anxiety, excitement, or that mean barista gave you a regular instead of decaf, we've all had a bad night's sleep filled with tossing, turning, and sleeplessness, only to wake up feeling like the living dead.
What can you do to ensure that you'll make it through the day without overloading on sugar, caffeine, or passing out? Follow these simple steps and you'll feel like your normal self in no time (well, almost). Not to mention, these steps will ensure you'll get a good night's sleep this time around.
1. Moderate your caffeine. If you've have a terrible night's sleep, you will probably want to hit up Starbucks for a triple shot latte--try not to. Overdoing it on caffeine will actually make you feel more fatigued. Caffeine does help, though, but try not to drink more than two cups or a little over one shot of espresso.
2. Green tea. If you had your coffee in the morning and you are beginning to suffer in the late afternoon, feel free to drink green tea. It will stave off the sleepiness without a huge rush of caffeine. Also, it can destroy the harmful free radicals accumulated in your body due to a disturbed metabolism because of a lack of sleep.
3. No sugar! A lack of sleep throws your metabolism completely out of whack. The normal process of breaking down sugars into energy goes completely haywire, causing your body to accumulate sugar over the day. If you feel like something sweet, try reaching for fruit instead of candy, soda, or baked goods--the fiber in the fruit will help stabilize your blood sugar.
4. Naps (and plenty of them!). The best cure for sleepless nights? Sleep. Big surprise, right? Just be sure that your catnaps aren't more than 45 minutes, as you'll hit your deep sleep cycle and wake up and feel more fatigued than before. The best solution are coffee naps. Drink a small cup of black coffee a few minutes before your catnap, then sleep for about 15 minutes. When you awake, the caffeine will just start to kick in and you'll feel completely refreshed!
5. Sunlight. Just 15 minutes of sunlight is all you need to get your dose of vitamin D for the day--and it will definitely boost your energy levels in no time!
6. Exercise. You might assume that because you are sleep deprived, you should conserve all your energy and skip your workout. This is definitely not true! Exercise can get your heart pumping which in turn boosts energy levels. Just be sure to take it easy--your usual kick-boxing class might be a bit of a stretch, but a light run or a walk would be perfect!
What do you think about these tips? Which one surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments!
Copyright © 2008 anoldent/Flickr
