Just Had A Sleepless Night? Here Are 5 Things You Can Do to Get Through the Day
Written by Zalfa Imani Trijatna
Sleepless nights sometimes happen. Maybe you had to pull an all-nighter to work on an urgent deadline, couldn’t get enough of your favorite tv show, or simply found it impossible to keep your eyes shut. Whatever the case, you can’t run away from your responsibilities waiting for you the next day with little to no sleep at all.
Inevitably, a sleepless night will impact your body the next day. Neuroscientist and wellness expert Leigh Winters said on NBC News, “When you don’t get enough sleep, your brain doesn’t function at optimal speed.” Research on brain imaging reports that sleep deprivation reduces blood flow to areas of the brain, including the area of the brain responsible for higher-level thought processes like working memory, the prefrontal cortex. Besides affecting your health physically, not getting enough sleep is also likely to increase your irritability and mood swings throughout the day.?
With barely any sleep, getting through the next day will surely be a difficult battle to fight. Nonetheless, it’s not impossible to power through and maintain your productivity level to complete your daily tasks. Here are 5 things you can do to get through your day following a sleepless night.
Simplify your day
Following a sleepless night, it must be challenging for you to function at your best capacity. Instead of forcing yourself to complete all your daily tasks as usual, try to lighten your workload as much as possible.
According to WebMD, doing fewer things will allow you to do a quality job without stressing out. Say you have five tasks to take care of. If possible, you can focus on two or three of them and do the rest the next day.?
Get some natural sunlight
Going outside is good for your body, mind, and soul, even when sleep-deprived. Spending some time outside to be in the fresh air and get some exposure to natural sunlight can make you feel more awake when you already feel like giving up on your day.?
Leigh Winters, a neuroscientist and wellness expert, notes that natural sunlight helps maintain your circadian rhythm, which will help get your sleep schedule back on track. So, instead of sticking around in front of your computer indoors, try to step outside and feel the warmth of the sun to stay up!
Don’t overdo caffeine
When you haven’t got any sleep and still need to go on with your day, your instinct may be telling you that you need some coffee to boost your energy. Coffee can, in fact, serve its purpose if consumed in moderation, but make sure that you don’t drink excessive amounts of caffeine.
Two cups of coffee will give you enough alertness to help you get through the day. According to Jeffrey Durmer, MD, chief medical officer at FusionSleep Center in Atlanta, US, drinking more than that probably won’t make you more alert or focused. If anything, overdoing caffeine will give you jitters and another difficulty sleeping, which you certainly don’t need.?
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Don’t skip meals
When you’re too drowsy, eating may slip your mind. That said, remember that skipping meals will only lead to glucose drips and increased moodiness, according to dietitian Maya Feller.?
When choosing what to eat after a sleepless night, remember that your body needs balanced meals more than it usually does. Put extra emphasis on protein-rich foods, including chicken, fish, and nuts. On the other hand, try to avoid processed foods, sugary snacks, and simple carbohydrates, which may bring down your energy levels.?
Take a power nap, if possible
According to Dr. Steven Olmos, board certified in sleep-related disorders, a power nap can be valuable when your normal sleep schedule is interrupted. This certainly applies when you’re going through a day on no sleep.?
When your energy level starts to sink in the afternoon, a power nap is there to help you restore your energy. Take a quick nap when you’ve got time. Keep in mind, though, that a power nap should only last for 20 minutes, no more or less.
If you’re going through symptoms of a sleep disorder, don’t hesitate to consult with Prixa!
Prixa is a pioneer in digital healthcare that helps companies and patients manage their health in more targeted and effective ways. Various health services, from teleconsultation, arranging doctor's appointments, pharmacy delivery, lab tests, and health content, to inpatient services and direct medical procedures, are available in one platform.
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