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"I'm sleepy even though I shouldn't be sleeping" "I want to wake up right now!" Have you ever been in a situation like this?
Sleepiness always hits you in situations where you shouldn't be sleeping. If you know how to wake up quickly in those situations, you can rest assured.
This time, we will introduce you to some carefully selected ways to wake up from sleepiness right now. If you read this, you will be fine no matter when sleepiness hits you! Please read to the end.
Want to wake up from sleepiness right now? Here are 12 ways to do just that
Everyone has had times when they want to wake up immediately, such as when they're still tired from work or housework and have a hard time in the morning, or when they have an important meeting that they absolutely cannot sleep through.
Here are 12 easy ways to wake yourself up in such situations.
- Apply cold water to your face and neck
- Pressing acupressure points to combat sleepiness
- Stimulate areas that are sensitive to pain
- Hold your breath
- Chewing gum
- Take in stimulants (caffeine)
- Take in glucose
- Stretching to improve blood circulation
- Apply menthol to your neck and nose
- Look towards the brighter light
- Exercise
- Take a shower
If you know various methods depending on the situation, they will be effective when the time comes.
Apply cold water to your face and neck
The most immediate method is to apply cold water to your face and neck. Many people have a routine of washing their face in the morning, and this is the most popular method. It is more effective if you set the water temperature low. When the human body temperature cools, the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated, and the body becomes more active.
Furthermore, if you are in a situation where you can use items such as cooling spray or cooling gel, you can wake up more effectively.
Pressing acupressure points to combat sleepiness
In situations where you are restricted in your movements, such as during an important meeting, and want to stay awake, it is recommended to press acupressure points that are effective in waking you up. Here we will introduce the acupressure points on the ears and hands.
Did you know that there are countless acupressure points on the earlobe? Of course, some of them are effective for drowsiness. Just pinch your earlobe with your fingers and pull it a little. That alone is effective in waking you up.
There are three pressure points on the hand that are effective for drowsiness: Hegu, Zhongchong, and Laogong. Hegu and Laogai are particularly easy to remember because their locations are easy to understand.
Hegu is located in the depression between the bones at the base of the thumb and index finger, and Laogong is located exactly in the center of the palm. Zhongchong is located about 2 mm below the nail line on the index finger side of the middle finger. Please press it referring to the diagram below. 
All of the acupressure points can be pressed under a table where no one can see them, so they're very useful during meetings!
Stimulate areas that are sensitive to pain
Humans are creatures that are sensitive to pain. This has been passed down in our DNA since ancient times. One way to wake yourself up is to use the power of pain. When you stimulate areas that are sensitive to pain, such as pulling on your cheek with both hands or lightly pinching your thigh, the human brain detects a danger signal and becomes activated. This helps you wake up from sleepiness.
Stimulating the soles of your feet is also an effective way to wake you up. I'm sure many of you can picture comedians on TV writhing in agony as pressure points are pressed on the soles of their feet. Although it doesn't go quite that far, massage sheets that can be used to press pressure points on the soles of your feet have recently been sold. I recommend these items as they are particularly useful when you are doing desk work and really want to wake yourself up.
Hold your breath
A simple method that can be done on the spot is to "hold your breath". It is well-known as a way to wake up from drowsiness because it does not require any special items and can be used in any situation. To do this, hold your breath as long as you can, then take a deep breath. When oxygen is not reaching the brain easily, and then a large amount of oxygen is delivered to the brain, the brain is activated and drowsiness is alleviated. This phenomenon occurs when the brain prioritizes taking in oxygen over drowsiness.
However, if you do it too much, you may become hypoxic and lose consciousness, so do it in moderation. There is also a theory that it is not very effective on its own, so if you try it in combination with other methods to wake you up, you should get the results you expect.
Chewing gum
I often see people with gum at their desks, and chewing gum is effective when you feel sleepy or want to concentrate. Chewing gum that has a refreshing or stimulating effect, such as refreshing mint or caffeinated gum, allows you to take in stimulating ingredients and get the stimulation of chewing (exercise).
Speaking of the stimulation caused by chewing, although it is not appropriate to eat such foods in the office during the day, eating something chewy such as dried squid or hard rice crackers sends stimulation to the brain via the ascending branch of the trigeminal nerve.
According to a survey conducted by the Japan Chewing Gum Association that measured the number of times people chew gum per 10g of edible portion, the average person chews gum about 550 times before discarding it, which is an overwhelmingly higher number of times than other foods (*1).
Take in stimulants (caffeine)
People feel sleepy when the sleep-inducing substance adenosine increases in the brain. Caffeine, which is found in coffee, has a stimulating effect by suppressing the action of adenosine.
The effects of caffeine begin to appear 15 to 30 minutes after ingestion. The duration of the effects varies from person to person, but it is generally said to last for about 2.5 to 4.5 hours.
In addition to coffee, caffeine is also found in energy drinks, soft drinks such as cola, green tea, roasted green tea, and black tea, as well as chocolate and cocoa made from cocoa beans.
The temperature of the drink is also important in terms of its contribution to arousal. Although it may seem that cold drinks are more likely to wake you up, experiments have shown that hot drinks, like hot soup for breakfast, slightly increase your core body temperature, which is effective in waking you up, so hot drinks are more appropriate. This is because a relatively high core body temperature (the difference between core body temperature and skin temperature) is necessary to wake you up.
Be careful not to consume too much caffeine
According to a report by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, caffeine has a stimulating effect, dilates blood vessels and suppresses cancer when consumed in moderate amounts, but excessive consumption can cause increased heart rate, arrhythmia, excitement, anxiety, tremors, dizziness, insomnia, diarrhea and an increased risk of high blood pressure (if consumed over a long period of time).
In addition, it has been reported that children, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and people who are highly sensitive to caffeine are more adversely affected, and therefore the upper limit for coffee intake is set lower than for adults in each country (※2). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the upper limit for coffee intake for pregnant women should be 3-4 cups per day (※3). Please consume within the appropriate range.
Take in glucose
When blood sugar levels in the body drop, known as hypoglycemia, symptoms such as decreased concentration, drowsiness, and excessive yawning appear. In such cases, it is recommended that you take in glucose.
Glucose is quickly absorbed and converted into energy, so it is very useful for improving hypoglycemic symptoms. By consuming it in combination with the caffeine mentioned above, such as coffee and chocolate, or tea and ice cream, you can expect an even greater awakening effect. These combinations are also perfect for refreshing yourself between work or study breaks.
However, be careful not to consume too much. Temporary high blood sugar levels can cause hormones to act in a way that lowers blood sugar levels, which can lead to post-lunch drowsiness, so be mindful of the amount you consume.
Stretching to improve blood circulation
The most effective way to wake up from sleepiness is to "move your body." When humans maintain the same posture for a long time, their muscles become tense and stiff, leading to poor blood circulation. It has been scientifically proven that poor circulation leads to sleepiness. When you feel very sleepy, the parasympathetic nervous system in your brain is strengthened, so you need to move your body to give the sympathetic nervous system more power. You can also expect improved blood circulation, which will have a synergistic effect in blocking sleepiness.
The easiest stretch is "stretching your back". It is an important and basic stretch. If you are able to move your body freely, stretching your back is the most effective. It is effective even if you are sitting, but doing it while standing improves blood circulation and activates the sympathetic nervous system more.
The key points to remember when stretching are to "do it carefully and thoroughly each time" and "do it every 2 to 3 hours." If you keep these two points in mind, you will be able to wake yourself up more effectively.
Apply menthol to your neck and nose
If you want to wake up with a direct stimulus, applying menthol is also effective. When you are overcome by an uncontrollable drowsiness, apply menthol lip balm or wet wipes directly to your neck or nose. Menthol enhances the function of the skin's cold sensor, so the cool, refreshing sensation will wake you up.
However, even if you feel very sleepy, avoid applying it around your eyes. It is too harsh on the skin around the eyes and may overstimulate the tear ducts. Apply it to safe areas such as your neck or nose for moderate stimulation.
Look towards the brighter side
This method does not require the preparation of special tools such as glucose or menthol. As you can see from the fact that you can only get sleepy in a completely dark room and cannot sleep in a bright space, people are less likely to get sleepy when exposed to light. If you feel sleepy, one way to refresh yourself is to look towards a sunny place.
Exercise
Moving your muscles also helps to wake you up by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system.
We especially recommend standing up and walking around. Standing tenses the muscles of the whole body, providing more stimulation and helping you wake up more efficiently.
In situations where it is difficult to stand, such as at work, or you cannot behave in a conspicuous manner, it is a good idea to stimulate your body as much as possible by rotating your ankles or opening and closing your hands.
Take a shower
If you are at home, we recommend taking a shower to refresh your mind. The flow of water and the warmth of the water will activate your sympathetic nervous system, raising your blood pressure and waking you up.
To activate the sympathetic nervous system more, it is effective to set the shower temperature a little higher.
Why do we suddenly feel sleepy in the first place? Let's find out the cause
Have you ever suddenly felt sleepy at random moments during the day? You feel sleepy but you can't stay asleep. To get rid of that sudden feeling of sleepiness, start by finding out the cause. Once you know the cause, you can take measures to prevent sleepiness from hitting you in the first place. Let's take a look.
You simply aren't getting enough sleep
The first thing that comes to mind as a cause of sudden drowsiness is simply not getting enough sleep.
You may think, "It's obvious that I feel sleepy because I don't get enough sleep," but in fact, you may not be getting enough sleep because you don't know what the optimal amount of sleep is for you.
The average Japanese person sleeps for about 7 hours and 40 minutes. Generally, it is said that the optimal amount of sleep is about 6 to 8 hours, but the optimal amount of sleep required to maintain physical condition varies from person to person.
Napoleon, who was famous for being a short sleeper, is said to have only slept for three hours, but he is also said to have taken multiple naps. If he really only slept for three hours, he would have felt sleepy and dozed off many times during the day.
On the other hand, there are people who are called "long sleepers" and feel physically in good condition unless they sleep 10 hours. For those who feel best when they sleep 10 hours, even if they sleep 8 hours, it is possible that they are not getting enough sleep.
If you feel sleepy, it may be that you are not getting enough sleep. It is important to pay close attention to your physical condition and ensure that you get the amount of sleep that makes you feel the best.
Poor quality sleep and not feeling refreshed
Another important thing about sleep is the quality of your sleep.
The effectiveness of sleep depends on two factors: "sleep time x sleep quality," so if the quality of your sleep is poor, you will not feel sleepy even if you get enough sleep. If you are unable to ensure the depth and quality of your sleep due to irregular lifestyle habits, noise, or light stimuli in the bedroom, you will not be able to fully recover from fatigue and you cannot expect to get a satisfactory sleep.
Another cause of poor sleep quality is sleep apnea syndrome, which causes breathing to stop due to airway obstruction at night, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood, resulting in repeated awakenings and preventing deep sleep.
In addition, because not enough oxygen is circulating throughout the body, fatigue cannot be fully recovered. This causes excessive daytime sleepiness, which is a characteristic of this disease. It is difficult to detect sleep apnea on your own.
If you have asked family members about your sleep and they have told you that you snore or sometimes stop breathing, it is a good idea to get tested.
The basis for eliminating drowsiness is to ensure an adequate amount of sleep and improve the quality of your sleep. This alone will eliminate most chronic drowsiness.
Articles about sleepiness can be found here
If you have time, taking a nap is effective!
It may sound pointless, but if you have time, taking a nap is an effective way to relieve sleepiness. The trick to taking a nap is to keep it short, around 10 to 15 minutes. This is to prevent your sleep from becoming too deep, and if you sleep for more than 15 minutes, your sleep will become too deep. If that happens, you'll wake up feeling dazed and unable to think clearly.
It is also recommended to drink a caffeinated drink such as coffee before taking a nap. The stimulating effect of caffeine will help you wake up refreshed after your nap. You can't take a nap during class or at work, but if you always feel sleepy in the afternoon, it might be a good idea to take a nap during your lunch break.
If you're having trouble with sleepiness, try to improve the quality of your sleep.
If you find yourself feeling sleepy during the day despite getting enough sleep, it may be that the quality of your sleep is poor to begin with.
In order to sleep comfortably until morning, it is important to prepare the right sleeping environment, including the brightness, sound, and temperature of the room, as well as to pay attention to the bedding.
Brain Sleep develops a variety of products based on medical ideas to support quality sleep.
For example, their signature product, the Brain Sleep Pillow, was developed based on the theory of the best-selling book, The Stanford Method for Better Sleep. It focuses on the "golden 90 minutes" of non-REM sleep, which is said to determine the quality of sleep, and improves the quality of sleep by cooling the brain.
In addition to pillows, they also offer a variety of products based on research into the brain and sleep medicine, including mattresses, sheets, and duvets, so please try finding one that suits your constitution and concerns.
Try these tips to wake you up and improve your sleep quality to avoid sudden drowsiness
Depending on the time of day you feel sleepy, your surroundings, and your personal characteristics, there will be some methods of waking up that suit each person and some that do not.
Try out different methods to find the best way to wake yourself up so you can overcome sudden sleepiness and spend your days feeling refreshed.
Finally, here are some ways to stay awake:
- Apply cold water to your face and neck
- Pressing acupressure points to combat sleepiness
- Stimulate areas that are sensitive to pain
- Hold your breath
- Chewing gum
- Take in stimulants (caffeine)
- Take in glucose
- Stretching to improve blood circulation
- Apply menthol to your neck and nose
- Look towards the brighter light
- Exercise
- Take a shower
If one medicine doesn't work for you, it's important to use them together to further increase the effect. There are some medicines that work well for you, so I recommend trying them out in advance when you feel sleepy!
If you feel extremely sleepy and nothing you do seems to help, you may have a condition called hypersomnia. If you find yourself suddenly falling asleep, or if you continue to feel sleepy during the day even after getting a good night's sleep, you should consult a sleep clinic.
If the time comes, remember this article and wake yourself up.
Check out our recommended items for getting good quality sleep!
Brain Sleep has developed a variety of items to meet the needs and concerns of our customers regarding sleep. We would like to introduce the features and key points of some of our recommended items.
【reference】
※1: Does chewing affect memory? - The surprising effects and benefits of chewing power
*2: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Agency, Food Safety Policy Division, Consumer Affairs and Food Safety Bureau, Regarding Excessive Consumption of Caffeine
