12 Ways To Stop Feeling Sleepy Without Coffee Or Energy Drinks

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4. Start Your Day With Some Sunlight

Do your best to expose yourself to some natural sunlight every single day. This will help to regulate your sleep-wake cycle, telling your brain that it is time to stay awake. One study, published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine in 2013, found that a deficiency of vitamin D was linked to sleep problems, including daytime sleepiness. Our bodies naturally convert sunlight into vitamin D. Whenever possible, get your face and eyes out into the sunlight for 15 minutes. Skip the sunscreen for this exercise.

5. Avoid Foods that Cause Drowsiness

There are certain foods that tend to make us sleepier than others. Avoiding them, especially in the afternoon hours, can go a long ways towards helping you stay wide awake. Things to avoid:

Alcoholic beverages
Pastries
Potatoes
White rice
Pasta
Processed or smoked meat
Cereals or foods that contain high fructose corn syrup
Avoid coffee after your morning cup or two

6. Do the Cold Water Splash

This sounds overly simplistic, but it works remarkably well. Whenever you start to feel drowsy, simply splash some cold water on your face. The sudden temperature change will not only wake you up, but it will increase blood circulation. This should improve your overall mental focus and energy levels. If possible, allow your wet face to air dry in front of a fan or air conditioner for extra effective therapy. If you have trouble waking up in the mornings, a cold burst or two of water while you shower will certainly wake you up quickly.

7. Eat More Omega-3s

The University of Oxford conducted a 2014 study which found that higher levels of omega-3 (DHA) are linked to better sleep. Anytime you get a good night’s sleep, you can almost guarantee that you will not be feeling sleepy during the daylight hours. Omega-3s will improve you immunity, as well as keep you mentally alert all day long. A recommended list of fish to eat includes trout, salmon, tuna, and sardines. Other good sources of omega 3s are peanut butter, walnuts, eggs, soy products, and flax seeds. Of course, you can always take an omega-3 supplement.

8. Green Tea

After your morning cup or two of coffee, make the switch to green tea. Green tea is unlike other teas in that it will give you energy all day long, as well as fight stress. The polyphenols in green tea also encourage better sleep. Don’t bother wasting your time drinking that stuff out of the vending machine or the bottles they sell in most stores. Brew it up fresh yourself. Feel free to drink three or more cups each day.

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