5 Ways to Battle Sleep Deprivation

Whether you are suffering from insomnia, taking care of a sick family member, or if you are trying to survive the first few months with a newborn, sleep deprivation can rob you of the sanity you came to love. Sleep deprivation can cause all sorts of issues to develop within your daily life. You may not feel as though you can function properly, get a sentence out without sounding silly or you may have health issues present themselves.

As we grow up and become adults we don’t truly understand just how important sleep is until we are a bit older. Sleep is one of the most important factors of our 24-hour cycle. It can mean the difference between failing an exam and acing an interview. Sleep is essential for our overall health and without it, we can fall into all sorts of medical problems.

To stay healthy and productive every day, you must get your daily dose of z’s. Some individuals can be productive on as little as 4 hours a night, while others desperately need 8 hours to function properly. Everyone is different when it comes to their individual sleep needs. Here are 5 tips for battling through sleep deprivation so you can find your way back to those relaxed, care-free, energetic days you love.

Become Snack Wise

Snacks play an important role within our days and some can pull us right out of the trenches when we are feeling sleep deprived. Eat healthy snacks that can offer you a boost such as an apple, banana, hard-boiled egg and start your day off with a protein-rich breakfast. Snacks are so important and if you believe that sugar will be a smart choice to keep you running through the day, you’ll be running on empty and eventually crash.

Take On Less

When you have too many commitments when you are sleep deprived it will only add to the problem. If you sort out your commitments and place the important ones in top priority, you can let some minor commitments go. The less you have on your plate when sleep deprived, the less pressure you will feel.

For example, being a new mom or dad and taking care of a newborn while balancing your work at home job can be extremely difficult. If you can, choose projects that you can manage and let some of your coworkers know that you will be needing a bit more time due to a new baby. Many of your coworkers will understand this and be more than happy to offer you time. Look at your schedule, see where you can scale back some commitments and give yourself a break.

Nap Whenever Possible

Short naps can be excellent energy boosters. They can offer you that extra bit of energy needed to make it through the day. If you are working from home, take a nap when projects slow down a bit or after each completed project. Make time for naps and set your priorities straight. If you have a new baby that is sleeping beside you, stop working and start napping. Take advantage of naps whenever you can and you will survive through this period of sleep deprivation.

Choose Your Caffeine Wisely

Many people think that drinking three cups of coffee in the morning will get them on a speedy productive path. This may happen for the first few office hours or so, but then you will crash. The crash may include a bad headache, dehydration and sluggishness. Try not to overload yourself with caffeine first thing in the morning. One cup is fine, along with a health protein-rich breakfast.

It can be beneficial to have another cup of coffee in the early afternoon, which is when most office workers and work-from-home types start to fade. If you are not sensitive to caffeine, try having one in the morning before work and one around 2pm. This should offer you the boost you need.

Be One With Nature

Many people do not have time to take a walk outdoors in their work day, but if you do have the opportunity, do it. Getting outdoors for a walk and exercise when you are sleep deprived is an excellent way to boost your energy levels. The fresh air alone invigorates the mind, body and soul and a 20 minute walk can also do wonders for sleep deprivation.