5 Ways to Stay Awake
Channel: New York Hall Of Science
Date: 2017-05-17

Having trouble staying awake when you need to get work done? 
Feel like taking a nap but end up passing out?
Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.  

In order to keep up with our increasingly fast paced society, teens should be getting on average 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night while adults should be sleeping around 7 to 9 hours. However, most people aren’t getting nearly enough sleep. 

The most common go-to when we feel tired is downing cups of coffee, redbull or other energy drinks, anything to help us stay awake in the moment. But this can lead to huge health problems down the road if we consume too much caffeine -- such as dehydration, headaches, nausea, and tremors. The effects of caffeine also wear off after several hours, in some cases, leaving you more tired than you were before. 

But there are so many better ways to stay up than drowning yourself in caffeine until your blood turns into coffee!

Tips to Staying awake:

Exercise! Not only does exercise improve quality of sleep, but studies show that exercising is also more effective in energizing the body than some sleep medications.
Rather than eating sugary snacks that can eventually lead to a “sugar crash”, stock up on snacks high in protein. 
Even better than eating snacks or protein bars, moving around and making conversation with other people also helps your mind stay active and focused. Avoid staying in one place or sitting in one position for too long in order to keep your blood pumping! 
Just can’t resist the lure of sleeping? Taking a 5-25 min nap can help prevent fatigue, enhance alertness, and retain memories. You also feel refreshed after waking up. Just make sure you set alarms so you don’t oversleep!
Finally, staying hydrated is extremely important because dehydration can lead to fatigue, confusion, and fainting. Made of 60% water, our bodies use H2O to transport nutrients to all parts of our body.

It’s important to remember these methods aren’t a cure-all for not getting enough sleep. The best way to not feel tired during the day is to get the proper amount of sleep at night! What are some ways you guys stay awake when you’re feeling tired and just want to pass out? Tell us in the comments below!

Sources
How to stay awake naturally
How to stay alert without coffee
How dangerous are energy drinks

Cast & Crew
Director & Producer: Yvonne 
Cam: Gabriella
Editor: Yvonne 
Sound: Jaimee 
Talents: Yvonne // Nancy

Thanks for watching!