Staying awake at work.

judas101 · 16-07-2007 10:26AM #1

How do you do it?

I get plenty of sleep and eat a decent enough breakfast.

I dont have the busiest job in the world and its a very quiet office. I can never help nodding off.

I tried loads of things but I'm having no luck.

Any tips?

AlmightyCushion · 16-07-2007 10:27AM

Inject yourself with potentially lethal doses of caffeine.

kdouglas · 16-07-2007 10:31AM

drink plenty of water, if the office is very stuffy, open a window or turn down the air con

Reku · 16-07-2007 10:33AM

Keep busy/drink Jolt. That does it for me.

judas101 · 16-07-2007 10:34AM

yeah, i'm trying the water thing now.

i tried the window thing but it got very cold and everyone got pretty pissed off. it did work to some extent tho.

i'm not a big coffee drinker and hate the slump after the initial sugar buzz after bikkies or sweets.

i do try keep busy but my job consists of 20 mins of work in the morning, monitoring things until 5 and 20 work to take mw till half 5. its the 7 and a half hour segment there i need to fill.

J.S. Pill · 16-07-2007 10:37AM

How severe a problem is this? Are we talking every day or just the odd day?

I had a very similar problem and it got to the point where it was really interfering with my performance. I ate well, slept loads and got plenty of exercise - Long story short I sought medical advice.

I'm not going to outline my particular case as it may be very different from yours and this isn't the place to be giving medical advice but, assuming you are eating and sleeping well, it certainly wouldn't do any harm.

judas101 · 16-07-2007 10:40AM

i dont think its that serious.

see when i have to run an errand (go to the bank or whatever) i'm fine its just the sitting still, bored in a stuffy office thing that makes me nod off.

jester77 · 16-07-2007 10:44AM

I have the same problem, plus it's not helping that I had very little sleep over the weekend and that's it's just so hot out at the moment.

What I find helps is keeping a small glass on your table and get up and go to the water cooler every so often. Sip on the cold water and once the glass is empty take a little walk again. I find the little water walks work wonders!

Tar.Aldarion · 16-07-2007 10:57AM

Browse boards.

cmoney · 16-07-2007 11:02AM

www.funkypool.com or www.funkysnooker.com

can usually keep me occupied

judas101 · 16-07-2007 11:02AM

Tar.Aldarion wrote:

Browse boards.

some days its great but what about the days when there's no action. last friday was a slow day for boards.

biko · 16-07-2007 11:15AM

Do you have a laptop? See if you can find a space where you work standing up.
It's better for your posture and keeps you more alert.

If not try walking around the room every 20 mins or so to oxygenate your muscles again.

ejmaztec · 16-07-2007 11:29AM

judas101 wrote:

How do you do it?

I get plenty of sleep and eat a decent enough breakfast.

I dont have the busiest job in the world and its a very quiet office. I can never help nodding off.

I tried loads of things but I'm having no luck.

Any tips?

Find a more stimulating job before you end up not being able to wake up at all!

judas101 · 16-07-2007 11:31AM

^^ only here for the summer thank god!

biko · 16-07-2007 11:34AM

See if there's a gym close where you can go for a lunch workout. That should help you get through the afternoon.

Jesus Wept · 16-07-2007 12:03PM

do some work

AlmightyCushion · 16-07-2007 12:22PM

The-Rigger wrote:

do some work

:D Jaysus rig you're one funny b@stard.

film_gonzo · 16-07-2007 12:40PM

Do something illegal like look at pron. That'll keep you on your toes :P:D

little miss · 16-07-2007 12:42PM

Gym or walk at lunchtime is a definite good idea, as is the water. Failing that, if it gets really bad, going to the bathroom and jumping up and down can work or throwing cold water on your face.

AlmightyCushion · 16-07-2007 01:05PM

little miss wrote:

going to the bathroom and jumping up and down throwing cold water on your face.

I just got a visual image of that and boy did it look mental.

Hail 2 Da Chimp · 16-07-2007 01:19PM

The only thing that works for me is caffieine... I didnt like coffee intil my present job but now I'm an addict :'(

Dudess · 16-07-2007 01:26PM

I used to be the same. I didn't just doze off - I used to actually fall into a deep sleep, no matter how much I slept the night before. Over-sleeping actually has me shagged, oddly enough. Anything more than seven hours and I'm wrecked.
But I don't tend to fall asleep at work any more - possibly because my job is more interesting.
God, I remember doing payroll in an office years ago and putting £1 million into people's accounts etc (note - it never actually went through).

jester77 · 16-07-2007 01:31PM

Dudess wrote:

God, I remember doing payroll in an office years ago and putting £1 million into people's accounts etc (note - it never actually went through).

Any chance you could work in my office for a week

Hail 2 Da Chimp · 16-07-2007 01:31PM

Dudess wrote:

God, I remember doing payroll in an office years ago and putting £1 million into people's accounts etc (note - it never actually went through).

Are... You STILL in payroll?

<_<

>_>

AlmightyCushion · 16-07-2007 01:36PM

Dudess wrote:

God, I remember doing payroll in an office years ago and putting £1 million into people's accounts etc (note - it never actually went through).

Well at least you tried.

Cheese Princess · 16-07-2007 01:38PM

I feel your pain!

There are certain times of the year when I have very little to do at work and the day just drags....it can be really hard to stay awake, especially between about 2.30 and 4.

I find the best thing is to keep moving. Go for little walks around the office, to the water cooler or the bathroom. Or instead of ringing someone in the company, walk to their desk. The less you sit down the easier it is to stay awake.

Sometimes when this doesn't work I go to the bathroom and take a power snooze. I sit on the lid and lean back against the wall and doze off for 5 or 10 minutes. And then I don't feel sleepy for the rest of the afternoon!

judas101 · 16-07-2007 03:27PM

Cheese Princess wrote:

k I go to the bathroom and take a power snooze. I sit on the lid and lean back against the wall and doze off for 5 or 10 minutes.

i tried this a few times but just couldnt get comfy. i think the can in my work is specially designed to combat this sort of thing.

red_ice · 16-07-2007 03:39PM

sleep in your car at lunch! Thats what i do and it keeps me awake.

I have alot of installs to do in my line of work, so i tend to get sleepy. I put a crappy pc against the door, then turn, face my computer, slump in my chair and go asleep. Then if someone comes in while im "working" they knock the pc over and wake me.

I have slept from lunch right through to 5:30, then worked anohter hour and been praised for putting in extra time - they could use more chaps like me who are willing to do what it takes to make our operations work smoothly.

judas101 · 16-07-2007 03:42PM

^^ you sir are a king among men.

unfortunately i commute so a snooze in the car is out of the question

AlmightyCushion · 16-07-2007 03:49PM

judas101 wrote:

^^ you sir are a king among men.

unfortunately i commute so a snooze in the car is out of the question

Take a snooze on the bus/dart/luas and see where it takes you. Getting back to work before anyone notices will make things really interesting.

mcauley · 16-07-2007 03:52PM

I'm faced with a very similar situation. Boards does help.

But I'd still love a sleep!!!!

Staying awake at work.

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