How to Feel More Awake During the Day

It’s normal to have an occasional sluggish day, but if you’re staggering through life longing for a nap or looking for a bottomless coffee pot, it’s time to evaluate your habits and change those that are making you more tired during the day.

If your fatigue is new, accompanied by other symptoms, or so severe you can’t function normally, start with a visit to your doctor. You don't need to accept exhaustion as normal, especially if you have a clean bill of health. You can make changes that will increase your energy level and help you to stop feeling tired all of the time. Some things you can try include:

• Prioritizing sleep
• Consuming more protein
• Limiting caffeine and alcohol
• Getting more exercise
• Drinking more water
• Enjoying fun activities
• Managing negative emotions
• Spending time outdoors
• Listening to upbeat music

Prioritize Your Sleep

Sleep is as important to your health as proper eating and exercise. Don’t push it aside to make room for other activities.

Sleeping too little, or less than seven hours per night, is the most common cause of exhaustion. In addition to leaving you feeling tired, lack of sleep has also been linked to an increased risk for serious accidents as well as the following health issues:

• Decreased immunity
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Heart problems
• Impaired thinking, memory, and mood
• Weight gain

Another often-overlooked energy-zapper is the snooze button. It’s so tempting to grab those extra nine minutes of shut-eye, but it's not enough time to reach restorative sleep. You’re better off getting up right away when the alarm clock rings.

On the other hand, some studies have shown that routinely sleeping more than nine hours each night is associated with an increased risk for diabetes, headaches, and obesity.

Fuel With Protein

If your usual breakfast is a muffin, doughnut, bowl of sugary cereal, or even worse, nothing at all, you’re likely to feel the effects just a few hours into your day. Filling your body with a heavy dose of carbs leads to a spike in blood sugar, followed by a crash that can make you feel desperate for a nap.

If you have time, scramble eggs for breakfast. If not, spread peanut butter on a piece of whole-wheat toast, enjoy a bowl of yogurt with fruit, or grab a protein-enriched bar or smoothie. Instead of an afternoon candy bar, have apple slices with a small piece of cheese.

Limit Caffeine and Alcohol

Caffeine, in the form of coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, or even chocolate, can affect your sleep by keeping you awake longer, shortening your restorative stages of sleep, and zapping your alertness the next day.

Do your best to watch your caffeine consumption; the FDA recommends no more than 400 milligrams (about four or five cups of coffee) per day. In addition, since caffeine's half-life can range from as little as two hours to as long as 12 hours, try to avoid caffeine within six hours of bedtime.

Alcohol can also interfere with good shut-eye, disrupting the duration of your sleep as well as your ability to fall and stay asleep. Researchers found that even consuming alcohol six hours before bedtime can increase wakefulness during the second half of sleep. Drinking too much alcohol can also lead to a hangover, and a rough, sleepy start to your day.

Make an Effort to Move More

It seems counterintuitive, but daily fatigue can be your body’s way of crying out for more activity. Exercise raises your metabolism, stimulates your mood, and helps you sleep better at night.

You don’t need to spend hours at the gym, or even do the recommended 30 minutes at one time. Take a brisk 20-minute walk around the block in the morning, and do a quick 10-minute stair workout in the afternoon. A study of sleep-deprived adults found that walking up and down the stairs for 10 minutes increases energy levels more than taking 50 milligrams of caffeine, which is roughly 4 ounces of coffee.

Drink More Water

Staying well-hydrated can also help you feel more awake during the day. Dehydration can lead to increased sleepiness, fatigue, and irritability, and many people don’t drink enough water throughout the day.

Try one of these ideas to up your daily water intake:

• Wake up and drink a glass of water before brewing your coffee or tea.
• Always keep a refillable water bottle handy, including at your desk and in your car.
• Drink a full glass of water before each meal.
• Alternate other beverages (like tea or coffee) with one glass of water.
• Swap your 8-ounce drinking glasses for 12-ounce ones.
• Reach for a glass of water before reaching for an afternoon snack.
• Sip water before and during exercise and drink a full glass after your workout.

According to the result of one study, upping your daily water intake can have a positive impact on your energy levels. The results found that for people who regularly didn't drink enough, boosting water intake led to increased wakefulness and more positive emotions.

Find Time for Fun

Fun and laughter are great energizers, so do your best to shake up your routine and indulge in a favorite activity each day, even if only for a short time. Even something small like trying a new hairstyle or switching your route to work can leave you feeling more alert.

A few fun ideas to add to your day include:

• Watch a funny movie.
• Read a hilarious novel or your favorite comic strip.
• Call a friend who cracks you up.
• Listen to your favorite tunes.
• Sign up for a class that interests you.
• Try a new restaurant.
• Learn a new hobby, like gardening.
• Give a new sport or workout a whirl.

Manage Negative Emotions

Stress, negativity, and depression are huge energy-suckers. If you are overwhelmed with gloomy thoughts, you might consider talking to a mental health professional to identify the source of your negative emotions and come up with coping strategies.

For everyday stress and blues, consider one of the following.

• Volunteer: Helping others is a great way to improve your mood and energy and lower stress levels.
• Be grateful: Take a minute or two before bed each night to write down something good that happened that day.
• Forgive: Hanging onto anger, grudges, self-pity, or resentment saps your energy and spirits. Releasing negative thoughts leaves your mind free to focus on more stimulating topics.
• Meditate: You don’t need to hit the mat for an hour to reap the benefits of meditation. Even spending several minutes of counting your breaths while sitting quietly can help calm your mind and leave you feeling more aware and alert.
• Practice your faith: Whether you are a regular churchgoer or consider yourself a spiritual person, some communion with a higher power is a great way to relieve your worries, appreciate what you have, and release the tensions and thoughts that lead to fatigue.

Spend Time Outdoors

Spending time outdoors has many important mental health benefits. Research suggests that natural light can improve sleep by increasing both the quantity and quality of your rest. 

So strive to spend a little time outdoors each day, whether going for a brisk walk around the block or enjoying another outdoor activity. If you want to start spending more time outdoors, try to:

• Take short breaks to go outside for a few minutes
• Plan outdoor activities
• Join a walking or hiking group
• Start gardening
• Visit local parks

Listen to Upbeat Music

If you struggling to feel awake, playing some of your favorite upbeat songs might give you a little extra boost of alertness. One study found that upbeat music led to faster, more powerful performances among cyclists. 

Faster-paced music helps the brain move the body more rapidly. Not only that, but high-energy songs can also help you feel more inspired and motivated and can help combat fatigue.

A Word From Verywell

If it seems there just isn’t enough caffeine in the world to get you through your day, it’s time to set down the coffee cup and start making healthy changes to build up your energy and conquer your busy life.

Feeling tired all the time can also be a sign of a medical or mental health issue, so if your sleepiness becomes excessive and difficult to manage, talk with your healthcare professional to discover what's causing you to feel tired during the day.