How to Stay Awake, Focused and Alert for the Day

Many of us wake up every morning feeling groggy and ready to climb back into bed. This makes it hard to carry on with our day and to stay focused at our jobs, school and taking care of our children.

It can cause many issues in our day to day lives. It can also be very dangerous when operating machinery or driving a vehicle. The lack of focus and being able to be alert can cause many issues and affects our judgments with every day issues. We can tend to be passive with many different things just because we don't care from lack of sleep. This can leave work undone, household duties unfulfilled and partners left feeling rejected. The lack of energy and overwhelming sleepiness can make a person appear lazy to others. This in turn can cause issues with peers, co-workers, your boss, family and your spouse.

If you want to help yourself get up in the morning and ready to face the day, pay close attention. I have a few tips that can make your life a bit easier if you follow these quick simple steps.

Eat lightly before you go to bed. Try not to eat large meals; this will help prevent the sluggishness you feel in the morning.

Get enough sleep and only go to bed when you are sleepy. Do not lay awake in bed for 30 minutes, get up and read until you start dozing off.

Get out of bed right away, turn on the lights, open the blinds and take a cold shower.

Wash your face with Noxema and brush your teeth with mint flavored toothpaste.

Eat a light healthy breakfast in the morning. Do not eat greasy foods in the morning; this will leave you feeling sluggish throughout the day. Also take vitamins with your breakfast and be sure to get your protein.

Get up and active right away. Go to the Gym, do simple stretches, jog down the street or do a quick clean up of your house.

Turn on the television for noise or pump up the music to get you going.

Have a strong cup of coffee or tea. Caffeine is more effective when taken in small frequent amounts throughout the day. Caffeine works by blocking a brain chemical called adenosine, which causes feeling of drowsiness.

Wear short sleeves or lighter clothing to help you stay cooler thus keeping you awake.

Rub rosemary, peppermint, or lime on your chest before going to work. The scents will help you stay alert.

Chew mint gum. Mint is a mild stimulant that will help you stay awake.

Drink ice cold glasses of water throughout the day to stay refreshed.

Be sure to discuss with your doctor if you have a problem with always needing more sleep even when you know your getting enough. Sleepiness may indicate a sleep disorder that requires medical attention. Also, too much or too little sleep can be a sign of depression.