8 Tips To Stay Awake And Focused While Working Late At Office

Photo Courtesy: William Brawley

When it gets late and there is a lot of work that’s pending, it’s human to get bored or feel sleepy. However, this can greatly impact the quality of work and effect your productivity as well.

Thus, it is absolutely essential to stay focused while working whether you are working late or not. Here are some tips that can help you to stay awake and focused while working late:

1. Don’t keep the work for later:

If you are working late, it is but natural to feel tired and postpone finishing the job. However, it’s not going to help your productivity because with time, your energy levels will go down and finishing the work will become even more difficult. The best way to deal with this is to prioritize all the work and then complete it based on the list. Don’t give in to laziness. It is also advisable to make a time table to chalk out a plan of action.

2. Drinking cupfuls of coffee:

Caffeine has always been one of the best solutions to staying awake in the night. Every office has a coffee dispenser so you can treat yourself to endless cups of it. However, if you have a cafeteria that is accessible at all times, try to drink a shot or two of espresso. Espresso has higher quantities of caffeine in it which makes it a better alternative to regular coffee. There was this one time when I had a shot of espresso in the afternoon and I had trouble falling asleep even in the night. So, caffeine is a tried and tested method of staying up late, be it for studying or working.

3. Washing your face with cold water:

Another great alternative for keeping yourself up and about when working late is to wash your face with cold water after every half an hour or so. The colder the water, the better the effect. Splashing cold water on the face helps in restoring focus and drives away sleepiness even if it is for a short while. If you can, splash some cold water on your hands and feet as well. It will help you to feel more relaxed and attentive when you work late.

4. Don’t think about going home or the outside world:

When you are alone and working, it is normal to think about what the rest of the world is up to but don’t do that. The more you think about the fun your friends and family are having at home or outside, the more you will delve into self pity which will affect your productivity negatively. Also, you will waste a lot of time by thinking about a million different things which will in no way help you to finish the job at hand. In fact, it will further distract you, so instead of channelizing your thoughts on everything you are missing out on, utilize that time to finish your work.

5. Walk around when you feel tired:

Whenever you feel sleepy or distracted, get up and stretch yourself. Walk around the office to break the monotony of sitting at one place and working. If you concentrate on something for long, chances are that you will feel tired and sleepy, so try to shift around in your seat if you don’t have the option of walking around. Better still, you can stretch your arms and legs in your chair to snap out of the stagnation.

6. Avoid sugar based drinks or food:

Sugar gives instant energy upon consumption but the energy is short lived. Sugar gets converted to glucose very quickly which is why it gives a sugar rush but when the rush ends, people tend to get overpowered with sleep and fatigue, so avoid eating or drinking foods which have a high sugar content. Even though it initially helps, the help is short lived.

7. Take small breaks:

Taking frequent breaks is a great way to keep your body alert and focused. Take a 15 minute break after every 45 minutes. You can read, listen to some music, visit some social websites, call your friends to talk to them and basically divert your mind completely for that duration. If you have your peers working with you, engage into friendly banter with them. Breathers can help to relieve you of tension, stress and fatigue and make work more productive.

8. Take a power nap:

Whenever you feel overwhelmed by work and very sleepy, take a power nap. Power naps are basically small 10 or 15 minute naps that people can take while working. It’s a great way of providing some instant energy which can last for a few hours.

This post is written by Steve Mcdaniel and his one of the most popular articles is easy jobs that pay well.