4 ms·

I think that these are bad tips. Coffee is ok, but you don't have to abuse. Eat properly is a good tip, but I don't think it's related to staying awake. Naps ar

by edu 18y ago

I think that these are bad tips. Coffee is ok, but you don't have to abuse. Eat properly is a good tip, but I don't think it's related to staying awake. Naps are a great thing, but never do a 1 hour nap! Something like 20 to 30 minutes is a great way to refresh your mind. The windows thing is a good thing, but like food, I don't know if it will help you to stay awake: in summer I sleep with an open window by my bed. Creative distractions are ok, but I think of lego, smart putty, a paper and a pencil, some bal, blogging (writing, not reading)... facebook doesn't count as a creative distraction nor does Hacker News, although at least HN is inspiring. Finally, I'll add my own tip: exercise. Go take a short walk around the office/home, or a little bit skating. Exercise will wake you up like anything else, and will put your brain in a more aware state. Also, a cold shower is a better way than coffee to get a quick boost.

time_management 18y ago
I agree. I've had some serious, work-affecting problems with caffeine addiction. After a while, it stops keeping you awake and simply becomes something you must have in order to survive. It's fine for occasional stretches, but it's a really bad idea to develop a high-coffee lifestyle. You're right on with the power naps-- they shouldn't last an hour-- but I'd add that meditation and brainwave entrainment are probably better. If you can coax the brain into a theta state, that seems to have the same positive effects as power naps, if not stronger ones. It's in the theta state that the brain reverses some of the effects of mental fatigue. To combat the grogginess coming out of the theta state, either entrain a beta state, or exercise. Power naps can be dangerous, especially at 2:00 in the morning. Facebook is the wrong kind of distraction because it breaks flow. It's possible to walk to the kitchen and get a sandwich and still keep one's state of flow, whereas checking facebook (like an interruption from the boss) tends to break it, because there's too much higher cognitive processing involved. Since one of the sharpest declines throughout the day is in the ability to regain one's concentration, this is a big problem.

by edu 18y ago

time_management 18y ago

I agree. I've had some serious, work-affecting problems with caffeine addiction. After a while, it stops keeping you awake and simply becomes something you must have in order to survive. It's fine for occasional stretches, but it's a really bad idea to develop a high-coffee lifestyle. You're right on with the power naps-- they shouldn't last an hour-- but I'd add that meditation and brainwave entrainment are probably better. If you can coax the brain into a theta state, that seems to have the same positive effects as power naps, if not stronger ones. It's in the theta state that the brain reverses some of the effects of mental fatigue. To combat the grogginess coming out of the theta state, either entrain a beta state, or exercise. Power naps can be dangerous, especially at 2:00 in the morning. Facebook is the wrong kind of distraction because it breaks flow. It's possible to walk to the kitchen and get a sandwich and still keep one's state of flow, whereas checking facebook (like an interruption from the boss) tends to break it, because there's too much higher cognitive processing involved. Since one of the sharpest declines throughout the day is in the ability to regain one's concentration, this is a big problem.