04-04-2005 15:05									#1
	Getting by without a nap Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

I don't know how to do it...

Everyday, without fail, I become incredibly sleepy right after lunch. This has probably been true for most of my adult life, but for most of my adult life I've been an academic and not bound by any particular working hours; I could just go home and sleep, then get back to work in the evening, when my energy returned.

In my new job/career, however, I have definite hours I have to keep (like everyone else in the world), and naps just aren't an option. So I have an incredibly productive morning, then just lurch through the afternoon like Zombie Rufus until my energy returns around 3.30 pm.

I know I'm not alone in this; in fact, some sleep research indicates that humans may actually be programmed for a midday shutdown. (Researchers call the period from 1-4 pm "the trough," which seems about right to me.) So I don't need reassurance. What I need is a way to stay alert.

Coffee doesn't do it. Neither does water. Exercise is not really an option, given where I work and how brief my lunch hour is.

So you tell me: how do you stay alert after lunch?

	04-04-2005 15:15									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

No one does mate, just use your working hours to feel lousy and sleepy, that's what the're there for.
Why waste your good productive hours on work?? That makes no sense at all.

Not eating could be an option, or at least eat lighter.

	04-04-2005 15:19									#3
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

quote: Originally posted by alva No one does mate, just use your working hours to feel lousy and sleepy, that's what the're there for. Why waste your good productive hours on work?? That makes no sense at all.

Damn. I was afraid of that.

quote: Not eating could be an option, or at least eat lighter.

I don't eat an especially heavy lunch, but this has occurred to me so I've tried it. As far as I can tell, it doesn't make any difference.

	04-04-2005 15:24									#4
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Eating lighter is a good idea. I am quite prone to post-meal sleepiness too, and the worst moment is when I eat heavy food (such as fries).

You may want some fruit juice, but not too much: the vitamins help, but you shouldn't drink too much (a fresh orange juice is quite caloric).

I's also advise you to keep the most repetitive tasks for "the trough". I have noticed that I become extremely sleepy when I am having a difficult task that requires brainpower.

	04-04-2005 15:25									#5
	Increase the size of your Attachments

* Spiffor is going to have a coffee right now btw

	04-04-2005 15:34									#6
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

Incidentally, I'm pulling an all-nighter tonight.

I do that every few weeks or so.

	04-04-2005 15:45									#7
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

Just did one, trying to readjust to living during the day. Curious to see how long it will last this time...

	04-04-2005 16:09									#8
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

Try to make sure you acces to natural daylight btw. That's one thing that very much undervalued by employers, although it could great improve your productivity and well being in general.

	04-04-2005 17:12									#9
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

quote: Originally posted by alva Try to make sure you acces to natural daylight btw. That's one thing that very much undervalued by employers, although it could great improve your productivity and well being in general.

Yeah, this is one of the big things effecting me, I think. I work in recently-built government building designed primarily for security, so the windows are very narrow and don't admit much light.

	04-04-2005 17:24									#10
	Re: Getting by without a nap Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly So you tell me: how do you stay alert after lunch?

Exercise, a shower, strong coffee- they've all worked for me.

Try eating more fruit, less starch, or more leafy greens, or fish.


If all else fails, a tip from one of Juzo Itami's films- hold a pair of dividers over your leg.

	04-04-2005 19:23									#11
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

Smoke meth and you won't need those naps any more.

	04-04-2005 20:05									#12
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

Are you getting enough sleep at night?

	04-04-2005 20:10									#13
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

If you wanna ditch the coffee, try this, it works 10 times better without the crash afterwards:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/black/go.html

	04-04-2005 20:14									#14
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

How long is your lunch break? If you have an hour, bring your lunch to work, eat it, then take a brief nap in your car.

	04-04-2005 20:17									#15
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Lunch schedule:

1) Eat it
2) Hit it
3) sleep

	05-04-2005 04:37									#16
	Increase Your PM Length

quote: Smoke meth and you won't need those naps any more.

While that's easily available in the Philippines -- in fact, a prominent Phil actress just got arrested in LAX for possession -- I think I'll pass, thanks.

quote: Are you getting enough sleep at night?

Plenty. That's what makes this doubly frustrating.

quote: How long is your lunch break? If you have an hour, bring your lunch to work, eat it, then take a brief nap in your car.

1) No car (I ride in on the embassy shuttle)
2) No career if the ambassador sees me napping in my car, lunch hour or not.

quote: Exercise, a shower, strong coffee- they've all worked for me. Try eating more fruit, less starch, or more leafy greens, or fish.

Hard to fit in exercise/shower, given my work circumstances. Maybe going vegitarian/vegan at lunch may do it (I'm not a big fan of fish).

Thanks for the input, all!

	06-04-2005 08:00									#17
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

I found that I would be very sleepy after lunch if there's nothing to focus my attention. IOW, nothing works better than a little pressure. So, maybe you want to change your schedule a bit, Rufus, and put the, um, exciting tasks during the sleepy period.

Also, drink more water during the day, esp if you have meat for lunch. Go to the men's room and splash some cold water on your face helps.

	06-04-2005 09:04									#18
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

eat it, hit it, sleep on it

	06-04-2005 09:32									#19
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

What a bunch of whiny losers in here. OR then they are just being nice. The fact is, you are just.. lazy.

	06-04-2005 09:39									#20
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

quote: Originally posted by Pekka What a bunch of whiny losers in here. OR then they are just being nice. The fact is, you are just.. lazy.

I know that. But I need a better way to mask it.

	06-04-2005 09:40									#21
	Remove this text

Well, males have this problem. I can't remember the name of it, but it basically is that they get tired. Meaning this, I believe.

	06-04-2005 09:49									#22
	Get a bigger avatar today!

quote: Originally posted by Pekka Well, males have this problem. I can't remember the name of it, but it basically is that they get tired. Meaning this, I believe.

So my problem is that I'm male. Jeez, can't you tell me something I haven't already heard from my wife?

	06-04-2005 14:00									#23
	Increase the size of your Attachments

It might pay off for you to learn some Chi Gung techniques for increasing your alertness. Breath and posture can have a large effect on your alertness level. A simple thing I learned from a Gung Fu guy is to "sit" in the horse stance. Basically your legs go on the sides of the chair with your toes pointed forward and your knees bent. You are almost standing or crouching, as much of your weight isn't being borne by the chair, but by your legs instead. This will force you to keep your torso straight, which will make it a lot easier for you to breathe deeply. It did a fair job of keeping me awake for 8 o'clock classes during my trough period, which is morning.

	06-04-2005 14:03									#24
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Become an American.

	06-04-2005 14:43									#25
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

What does everybody else do? Turkey, Phillipines ... hot countries where siesta is normal (I think). Maybe you are catching local cultural influences?

	06-04-2005 14:53									#26
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

I never have to worry about getting sleepy at work. . The joys of not working in an office.

actually the real reason I don't get tired at work is I get plenty of sleep and I don't drink caffeine.

When will people realize caffeine is not a good thing. At least for me, I'm quite certain it disrupts my deep REM sleep. I get better sleep without caffeine.

	06-04-2005 15:10									#27
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

quote: Originally posted by Urban Ranger Go to the men's room and splash some cold water on your face helps.

Nah, splash the cold water on your genitals.

Not only does it wake you up, but it also has the added bonus of winning you admiring glances from all your fellow workers.


Failing that, sit your arse in boiling chipfat. If that doesn't wake you, you're dead or George Bush Jr. .

	06-04-2005 15:20									#28
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

and I get annoyed when you hear people bragging about how little sleep they get. You always hear people bragging they only got 3 hours of sleep. If they aren't bragging, they are going for that fake sympathy.

I get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night, and I'm proud of it. And even better, I never have to wake up early in the morning.

	06-04-2005 15:27									#29
	Remove this text

You've probably got the same problem I suffer from...narcolepsyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyhnm

	06-04-2005 15:31									#30
	Got spare money?

quote: Originally posted by Provost Harrison You've probably got the same problem I suffer from...narcolepsyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyhnm

No, that's the problem we have when reading your pos