tired woman starting at clock On the night you need to sleep the most, the kids decide they aren't going to play ball, or you're worried about bills and just staring up at the ceiling. Sound familiar? So, what does one do when the alarm clock goes off in the morning and you feel like you’ve barely had a wink. Below, we’ve put together some techniques that will keep you going even when you’ve not had the forty winks that you need.

Drink Plenty of Fluids

water splashing out of a plastic bottle If the body gets dehydrated we start to become seriously lethargic. You’ll feel much sharper and more alert if you can drink plenty. Plus, drinking more leads to more trips to the loo, which keeps you active throughout the day. Top Tip: Throwing a slice of lemon into your water is proven to give your brain and nervous system a boost.

Get Your Body Moving

Working out is a really great way to get the blood pumping and gives you that extra energy you need. Exercising boosts energy and speeds up your metabolism which in turn helps your circulation. Exercise also contributes to a more restful night’s sleep. Top Tip: Of course, we don’t all have time to hit the gym, but even a brisk walk on your lunch break will contribute towards getting the energy flowing.

Keep Meals Light

Although it might be tempting to lean on comfort food when we're not feeling our best, it's actually very important to avoid carb-heavy meals. Large meals and junk food will make you drowsy. Instead, opt for regular healthy snacks and light meals. Top Tip: Fruits and veg, low-fat yoghurt and chicken and fish meals are a great mixture of natural sugars and protein that will keep you going all day.

Head Outside

sun shining through bright blue skies Sunlight helps you cope with afternoon drowsiness because it increases the body’s level of vitamins D and B. It also helps improve your mood, keeps you focused and gives your immune system a little boost. This is all the more important if you’re not sleeping well as lack of sleep has been found to put you at a higher risk of developing nasty colds and viruses. Top Tip: The fresh air and change of scenery are perfect to give you that extra pep that you need. However, if it isn't possible to get out during lunch, sit in a room for a little while with the window open.

Take a Cold Shower

Cold water revitalises the body and the sudden shock will clear any brain fog you may be suffering with. Top Tip: Of course, you probably won’t be able to shower at work, but splashing cold water on your face, wrists and temple is also effective.

Variety is the Spice of Life

The rigid structure might be good for you most days, but if you're starting to count sheep, it’s time to switch things up. Top Tip: Browsing the internet, chatting with co-workers or playing games like pool or Ping-Pong during breaks is a great way to keep your brain chugging along.

Simplify Your Day

If you've not had your full eight hours, no one can blame you for not meeting your normal levels of productivity, but the last thing you want to do is take on too much and either fail to complete it all or perhaps even worse, complete it to a below par standard. Top Tip: If you are in the fortunate position of being able to delegate, then move some of the less important tasks to colleagues.

Take a Nap

man taking a nap on the grass with hat on Around 2-4pm we often suffer an attack of sleepiness, this occurs even if you have slept well the night before. There are numerous reasons for this, but so long as you’ve stayed away from the high-carb lunch, the most common reason is a lull in your bodies core temperature. Your body’s natural cycle releases a hormone called melatonin, which makes you sleepy. This urge can be fought off under normal circumstances, but lack of sleep might make this urge completely overwhelming and therefore grabbing a 30-minute nap will be incredibly beneficial. We’ve discussed how important sleep is to function normally, but some nights just won’t be kind to you. External influences are often the cause of not being able to sleep, but if you’re having trouble with your mattress or bed, that’s where we come in. At My Next Mattress, we’re always happy to help. It can be very overwhelming to decide on what mattress or bed is for you, which why we’re always available to contact or visit us at our showroom.