While we know that if we don’t get much sleep, it will affect productivity, what if you can’t sleep? Whatever your situation, it’s true that sometimes you don’t get the recommended hours of sleep. While a cup of coffee may help loosen you up, you can’t depend on it alone to stay productive when you’re overtired. Read on to learn how to deal with little sleep and stay productive.
Also read:How Your Monitor May Be Preventing You from Sleeping
1. Work Out
You must be wondering: won’t it make me even more exhausted if I worked out? On the contrary, exercise boosts your productivity by increasing your energy levels and fighting fatigue. It also lightens up your mood, and happy people are more productive.
Go for a walk, jog, dance, or do any low impact exercise that will make you sweat. Stretch a bit to ensure better blood flow. A workout gives you a feeling of accomplishment and encourages you to do more.
2. Drink Lots of Water
A new study by University of East London researchers revealed that drinking water boosts productivity by 14 percent. They discovered that hydration increases cognitive performance and improves moods, making people more productive.
Therefore, when you don’t get enough sleep, you should hydrate first thing. You should also make sure you are hydrating with plain water. This is a strategy I usually use when I feel fatigued and even when I’m simply tired. It works like a charm every time.
3. Bask in the Sun
One of the easiest ways to wake someone up is to open the curtains and let the rays of natural light in. Bright light boosts serotonin levels which make us both alert and calm. It’s also a happiness hormone and boosts our moods.
Therefore, instead of dumbing down your nerves in dim spaces, get out and feel the sun. Don’t forget to take some water with you to continue hydrating steadily.
4. Nap
If you can spare a few minutes for sleep, do so. While some people ask whether they should take naps for productivity, many studies have confirmed its effectiveness. The problem is, many people nap the wrong way.
After numerous studies to determine the ideal nap time, most scientists settled on the 15 to 30 minute window. You’re likely to wake up feeling energized, while less or more sleep would leave you either feeling it didn’t make a difference or even more exhausted. Time your nap right and stay productive with little sleep.
5. Stop Worrying About Sleep
The problem is, many people learn comprehensively about sleep and productivity and forget one essential lesson: to stop fretting about it. I was one of those people. The resources people seek when learning how to deal with little sleep and stay productive may be omitting that tip.
While it’s okay to wonder how to be productive when you can’t sleep, you need to apply the hacks mentioned without worrying about the problem itself. Instead of going to bed thinking, “Tomorrow is going to be dreadful because I won’t have enough sleep,” think, “I’m getting less sleep, but I’ll still be productive tomorrow.” It’s more likely to come true if you believe it.
Closing Thoughts
Sleep is essential for productivity. But sometimes you can’t get enough, yet have to get things done. Reading the above tips, you’ve learned how to deal with little sleep and stay productive. When do you get less sleep than you should? If you’d like to get more sleep, read on to learn how to get a good night’s sleep organically.