While caffeine has its share of critics, some sleep experts recommend that when you need a boost, go for it. Dr. Deborah Sewitch said. The way to use caffeine is in the morning to wake you up and then in the early afternoon to help you through the afternoon. Low-fat yogurt, lean meat and fish can also give you an energy boost, WEWS reports. Research shows that they release tyrosine, a substance that may improve mental alertness.
Exercise is another way to stay alert.
And remember to relax. Parents need down time before going to sleep. But for many parents, relaxation time and sleep are the only things that they can sacrifice. The National Commission on Sleep Disorders said that Americans are sleeping 20 percent less than they did 100 years ago. Research Copyright 2001 by NewsNet5 .