One of the challenges of working from home is the constant urge to hit the bed and take a nap.
Even on days when you’re feeling super-motivated for the tasks at hand, you may still find yourself dozing off over and over again.
It’s not because you’re lazy; it’s just the consequence of working without pressure. You are in your comfort zone, and your body is trying to make the most of the freedom.
Unfortunately, too much sleep is bad for business. Not only will your productivity drop, but you also risk operating at a subpar alertness level, which can lead to errors and costly mistakes.
In this article, we want to discuss some tips that can help you stay awake and active throughout your working hours when working from home.
How to snap out of feeling sleepy when working from home
1. Situate your workspace far from your bedroom
It is possible that the reason you keep feeling sleepy is that your bed is close by.
Although you may not understand the psychology behind that, the truth is that working close to your bedroom may be too tempting for your brain to ignore. This is because the human brain has already associated “beds” with sleep.
So, if you want to snap out of feeling sleepy during working hours, we recommend moving your workstation far away from your bedroom.
2. Get enough sleep
It is not hard to deduce that if you aren’t getting enough sleep at night, you’ll likely succumb to daytime naps.
Unfortunately, many remote workers become so engrossed in their jobs that they barely make time to sleep, let alone observe the medically recommended 8 hours of sleep time.
If you want to avoid those midday naps, you have to sleep better at night. There’s no getting around that.
A good way to improve your sleep pattern is to establish (and maintain) a consistent work and sleep routine. For example, you can set sleep-time and work-time alarms, which tell you when you go to bed and when to begin the day’s work.
3. Incorporate CBD into your daily routine
You probably know CBD for its sedative and sleep-inducing effects. But this one-size-fits-all solution can also act as an anti-sleep drug.
If you’re having trouble staying awake during the day, you may need to incorporate CBD into your everyday routine. Maybe start adding it to your morning tea/coffee, midday snacks, and late-night food. CBD is known to help with alertness, improved mood, focus, and energy boost.
For anti-sleep effects, it’s recommended to take low doses of lower-strength CBD.
Why? Because experts say that “Lower doses of CBD act by increasing wakefulness and inducing a stimulating effect. Higher doses, on the other hand, have a sedative effect.”
Where can you buy the best CBD for alertness and wakefulness?
- Royal CBD
- Gold Bee
- Area52
Royal CBD: Royal CBD features some highly potent CBD oil products in its line. For alertness and anti-sleep effects, you can check out Royal CBD’s 250 or 500-milligram CBD strengths.
Gold Bee: Gold Bee is renowned for delivering CBD products that address specific purposes. If you’re looking for something that keeps you awake, active, and focused throughout the day, Gold Bee invites you to try its full-spectrum oil with 300 milligrams of CBD strength.
Area52: Area52 is another popular CBD brand. They currently have just one product in their line – the 40 mg per serving full-spectrum CBD oil. This particular product is renowned for its manifold benefits, which include anti-sleep effects.
4. Take a walk instead of sleeping
Anytime the sleeping bell rings, simply drag your butt up and take a walk around the compound.
Getting some fresh air and working your muscles and joints is particularly effective for staying awake. By the time you return to your workstation, you’ll be more alert and ready to continue your work.
5. Take activity or relaxation breaks
People who work from home barely include “break time” in their schedule. Since they can eat or pause their work anytime they feel like it, they just glide through the day without creating any official time for breaks or relaxation.
This is not a good practice at all. There is a reason why workplaces have dedicated break time. It is to ensure workers don’t become so engrossed with tasks that they forget to slow down and relax.
Sitting for too long at a desk can make you feel tired, drained, and sleepy. But when you create a dedicated hour for a break, you give yourself a chance to unplug and recharge your batteries.
6. Ensure your workstation is bright and well-lit
Did you know that working in a dark environment can make you sleepy and tired?
Don’t believe that? Why else do you think your body suddenly becomes tired and withdrawn once it is night?
Scientific studies have found that the absence of light sends a critical signal to the body that it is time to rest. When it’s dark, the body releases a hormone called melatonin from the brain’s pineal gland, signaling that it’s time to feel drowsy. This is why you find melatonin supplements on the market as sleep aids.
If you’re working in a dark or dim environment, you can be sending the wrong signals to your brain. To avoid that, always keep your workstation bright and well-lit. If there’s no light source, you can open the window shades.
7. Take a nap break
Finally, take a nap break! Surprised to hear that? Don’t be.
Although it sounds counterintuitive, it can be effective for some individuals.
If you’re one of those people who find it hard to resist the urge to sleep no matter what, it may be a nice idea to take a nap break at a specific time during the day.
Napping for as little as 15 to 20 minutes can help improve your alertness for the rest of the day.
