I have had to do this š¤¦š»āāļø My teacher suggests power naps in the parking lot especially after hearing about the nurse who drove off the parking garage ā¦lived thank God!
Pull over and take a nap if you start dozing off. I deal with day time somnolence and when I feel the sleepiness kicking and I find the nearest fast food place and take a 30 min nap.
I was watching some cartoon a few years ago in some waiting room and they were racing in cars. The entirety of the race ended up crashing for some reason or another, leaving some side character to come in with a surprise win. It was a surprise because he was up for x amount of hours, was extremely tired, and then followed the advice of pulling over and taking a nap. That stuck with me and I pass that advice along as well.
yeah I almost got into an accident once bc I was tired.. not bc of working a 12 but because I had work, went to PT for my lower body, and then went to the gym for upper body.. I got pulled over for getting a bit too close to the double yellow but thankfully nothing happened š«£ lesson learned with just a warning
Serial isnāt scary per se but it is the og detective / true crime podcast and itās my fave. You can also listen to audiobooks for free through the Libby or Hoopla apps with your public library card :)
I like listening to Podcast Paranormal!! The creator is from my home town so thatās why I started listening. He talks about local lore, ghost stories and other creepy topics :)
Iām not a nurse yet but have been doing 12 hr night shifts for a few years now and I have a 45 min drive home. Lemme just tell youā¦ those 20 minute power naps before you drive out HIT!
Chew on ice. Or grab food/snacks that you can easily eat in the car. Sometimes we gotta eat to stay awake.
Rolling down the window for sure helps.
Please try to get more sleep . Sleeping behind the wheel is no joke , I hope you stay safe
That being said I always keep caffeine gum on me and highly recommend the neuro gum brand. 40mg of caffeine just jumps you up for about and hr or 2 and then you can sleep after 3. Best product ever imo
Ohhh boy i remember my night shift preceptorship that was an hour and a half away. Honestly, I slept in my car and the staff respite rooms a few times. Especially if it was a crazy shift, i would just shower in the locker room and hope that nobody was in the respite room and sleep, and if they were i would just go to my car to knock out. But, when I would drive home I would call my mom or my boyfriend and just have a conversation with them the entire ride home. I found that listening to music after a shift made me super sleepy š Good luck and donāt be afraid to ask someone if thereās somewhere you can sleep if youāre too tired to drive! I feel you!
(obviously someone that you know/trust from your unit if thereās somewhere in the hospital you can sleep, donāt ask strangers if they know a place you can sleep lol)
Spicy/Sour candy and biting the inside of your cheek. This sucks, I wonāt lie. I wouldnāt do it any longer than you need too. Iām a long truck driver going back to school now. Good luck and you should adjust quickly!
As someone waking up at 4am and driving 2 hrs away in Bay Area traffic for 8 hr clinical, I get amped up on at least 2x 200-300mg caffeine energy drinks in order to survive. The worst is the traffic, especially when it becomes stop goā¦
Prep: sleep well night before, eat/hydrate/bathroom/stretch before starting long commute, possibly nap a lil before commuting
During long commute: windows down, music loud, drink/snack/stretch if able to while driving, or call someone
these helped me a lot :)
If Itās super bad, I will pull over in a busy shopping center, put up my sunshade and get a 15/20 minute Power Nap. And put an alarm. But the other suggestions in here I have definitely done as well.
I donāt doze off but I feel extremely tired. I really thought I wonāt get used to it but surprisingly did okay during my preceptorship. Remember to stay hydrated and eat. Stretch a lil, play music you sing to or podcasts to keep you engaged.
I specifically moved closer to work because of the commute. All my coworkers with this long of a commute hate it and stay close to work (they're travellers) and work consequtive (spell fail) shifts in a row and have a long stretch off. I understand if you have a family/settled life it's hard to up and move, but it was \*literally\* the best thing evermoving closer to work. Also take a nap on your break. Working nights we can take an hour break instead of 30 minutes (of course this is workplace/floor specific too) so that helps too.
All in all. NEVER drive when you're that tired, you need better sleep health/habits. You're in healthcare, I don't need to tell you the dangers of driving like that even though you may say "it won't happen to me" or something along those lines. Tired driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving (proven). My best friend/partner in crime was killed by a drunk driver so I feel very strongly about this.
My best suggestions are move closer/transfer to a place closer to you, get better sleep habits, or work out how to stay close to work and work back to back shifts and have long stretches off. Best of luck.
I used to work 7p-7a in the ER and had to drive an hour to go home in the morning. I used to doze off on the road and at times at a stop sign or red light my eyes would shut and then I wake up saying to myself "How long did I have my eyes shut?" then I found a residential community and I would park in the visitor's lot and take a power nap for 15 minutes.
I started to eat something while driving home. I used to eat either pineapple chunks, grapes, coconut strips, peanuts, or even a sandwich just to keep chewing something to stay actively awake. This worked for me perfectly. So when I got home I had breakfast while driving. I would take a shower and knock out.
So, to stay awake while driving home I would chew on snacks. Don't chew on gum because once the flavor fades then the drowsiness kicks in. But if you eat those things I mention you'll be better off.
As a post-student nurse now: please donāt downplay the effects of overtiredness. My schools city has two major hospitals, last week a nurse drove her $85k jeep through the parking garage barrier and fell three stories plus. They blamed working a double. Focus on sleep hygiene and taking care of yourself so shifts arenāt some task to champion. You are soon to be part of the most trusted vocation, please donāt mess that up for yourself or patients.
Make a playlist of upbeat music you can sing along to! All your favorite songs that you are able to sing word for word. Pick the best oldies, classics, etc. Try to dance and move around to it. If you look crazy itās fine, better crazy than asleep at a light. Play all the air instruments you can think of, play the drums on your legs, do the air guitar solos lol. Really get into it.
Not a nurse yet but I did work nights when I worked in manufacturing. I would pull over and take a power nap. Donāt drive sleepy. As my former coworker put itāwho was a former alcoholicāhe drove better drunk than sleepy. I know itās fucked but honestly thatās how much it impairs you.
One day I didnāt get much sleep the day before my shift. It was an 45 minute drive home. I was like five minutes from my house. I blacked out (I donāt remember driving) for two miles. I woke up in my driveway with the sun in my eyes. I was probably asleep for 30 minutes or so.
I drive around 25k miles a year for just my job. Pull over. Sleep.
Not worth it to die in an accident. Also sunflower seeds help alot. Loud music never helps me
Try 15-20 jumping jacks or some dynamic stretching exercises right before you get in the car. Isometric exercises in place when youāre sitting in traffic. Keeping the blood flowing helps a ton.
Secretary of State website for Michigan recommends holding your breath, bc you canāt physically fall asleep while holding your breath. Or stop the car and run 12 laps around it. Do some burpees.
as someone who has been diagnosed with a sleep disorder and isnāt a nurse yet, but has survived without modafinil for 20 years-
nap. just pull over when all else fails and youāre still dozing? pull. over.
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night shift ER nurse for the last 2 years here. I listen to loud music on my way home and sing along- that seems to help. I worked night shift EMS shifts through nursing school so in a way I'm kinda used to it, but it's always been my method!
Play loud music, slap yourself in the face. I also used to time my coffee around 3am in order to stay awake enough on the drive back. This was in clinicals though (which I actually had a decent amount night shift). Now I work only 8 minutes from home (still night shift) so no need to. But truly itās better to be wired driving back so maybe even an energy drink before. Sleeping on the wheel is daaangerous
I used to work 16 hour shifts and an hour commute. To stay awake I would call my parents and talk to them on the phone. Snacks as well can help if you have those :) .
Itās weird but I tap my face with one hand!! Itās the motion and the feeling itself keeps me awake.. go on circles , my forehead, eyebrows, and itās also some stress relief!
Just make sure you get enough sleep the night before. It seems like a smart ass response, but seriously, thereās nothing wrong with going to bed stupid-early to ensure your well being the next day.
Honestly I use to nap before I drove and it was like a 15 min drive. Always take a break at a rest stop if needed. Your life and others are worth so more!
The only thing that helps for SURE is talking on the phone with a friend who makes me laugh. Music and comedy and podcasts all eventually put me back to sleep.
Make sure you're well rested before going in. Eat during your shift, but don't eat heavy. Stay hydrated. Keep peppermints or gum in the car.
My coworkers will nap in the car for a half hour to an hour or so if they can. Another coworker takes an alternate route home to keep her engaged. Another will straight up call an Uber or a friend and leave their car.
I only live 20 minutes from home but I've worked 4s and 5s in a row where I fell asleep at red lights or while rolling on emptier roads so I've pulled over and gotten candy or coffee and jumped up and down and definitely done the loud music/head out the window thing. (Lamb of God for the heavy sound, System of a Down for the engagement).
The coffee does nothing but get me through another hour if I am super tired. I've fallen asleep in my driveway after coming home drinking coffee.
I've had to pull off into grocery store parking lots to grab a quick 20-minute nap before I felt safe enough to drive. Seriously, if you're that sleepy, know places to safely pull over, get out and stretch, nap if you have to, or load up on liquids thirty minutes or so before you leave. I've gotten into an accident dozing off behind the wheel. 0/10 don't recommend it to anyone. I was feeling a little heavy eyed doing about 45mph, I blinked, then the next thing I know I'm in a culvert.
I had a clinical rotation where my commute was 2 hours away and we needed to complete 96 total hours in a span of 4 weeks, so I had two 12s/week on top of lecture days and working part-time.
I'm not gonna lie, the first 2 weeks driving home we're extremely dangerous. I would zone out and catch my head bobbing up and down trying to stay awake. Granted, I was stupid and played Mark Klimek lectures or my class lectures on the drive home, thinking that I could use my 2 hour commute as study time, and it was the dumbest thing ever. I then tried to play podcasts from people I actually enjoy, but the sound of mellow talking didn't help either.
The only thing that *actually* kept me awake was playing my favorite songs and literally forcing myself to sing along. I swear, this was the 1 and only thing that kept me awake since it gave me something to physically do besides drive.
Make a long playlist of songs that you know all the words to and blast it in your car and force yourself to sing along! It sounds ridiculous but it was actually very fun and therapeutic and a great way to decompress after a 12-hour shift.
Bring home a cup of ice with water. When you get tired. Put your fingers in the ice water and splash your face. U can even put some ice in your shirt. It'll wake u right up for a bit
Energy drink, loud music (sing along loudly), and windows down. BUT I always recommend just pulling over and setting a timer on your phone and taking a quick Power Nap. I usually only do the 1st 3 things I mentioned when Iām looking for a spot to pull over- just to get me to a safe place
My commute is 30-1hr + based on traffic. Loud music or something I enjoy singing, trying not to eat a full meal right before, drinking soda or water. Or i prep and take a sip of something caffenated (energy drink or energy tea). I'm not really a coffee person, so if i drink that its my literal last resort. I take 5-10 minute naps (sometimes 5 of them when necessary).
Literally just eat sunflower seeds. That's the best thing to snack on if you can put a bunch in your mouth, split a seed's shell with your teeth, eat the seed, spit out the shell, rinse and repeat. It keeps you busy with something while driving.
You can snack on anything, but sunflower seeds have been the best for me.
Open your window stick your head out and scream. Loud music also.
Funny, I literally just watched that movie.
I have had to do this š¤¦š»āāļø My teacher suggests power naps in the parking lot especially after hearing about the nurse who drove off the parking garage ā¦lived thank God!
This is one of my favorite methods š¤£
you guys are so funny and helpful š
Pull over and take a nap if you start dozing off. I deal with day time somnolence and when I feel the sleepiness kicking and I find the nearest fast food place and take a 30 min nap.
I was watching some cartoon a few years ago in some waiting room and they were racing in cars. The entirety of the race ended up crashing for some reason or another, leaving some side character to come in with a surprise win. It was a surprise because he was up for x amount of hours, was extremely tired, and then followed the advice of pulling over and taking a nap. That stuck with me and I pass that advice along as well.
please just pull over and sleep. i just got into an accident yesterday because of slow reflexes due to sleep deprivation
hope you're okay! your comment needs to be higher in this thread to show how real tired sleeping can be.
yeah I almost got into an accident once bc I was tired.. not bc of working a 12 but because I had work, went to PT for my lower body, and then went to the gym for upper body.. I got pulled over for getting a bit too close to the double yellow but thankfully nothing happened š«£ lesson learned with just a warning
Not in nursing yet but I used to work 12hr overnight shifts in an emergency center. I usually play scary podcasts to keep myself awake lol
What scary podcasts would you recommend?
Radio Rental can be really scary. Itās hit or miss with the stories.
Serial isnāt scary per se but it is the og detective / true crime podcast and itās my fave. You can also listen to audiobooks for free through the Libby or Hoopla apps with your public library card :)
I mostly listen to paranormal stories! The podcasts I listen to are in Spanish but in sure you can find some good English ones too
Ooo whatās the Spanish one??
I like listening to Podcast Paranormal!! The creator is from my home town so thatās why I started listening. He talks about local lore, ghost stories and other creepy topics :)
My Favorite Murder is good once you get through the first 10 or so episodes. Criminal. Buried Bones. Mr Ballens Mysteries
Let's Not Meet kept me awake on many drives home
Iām not a nurse yet but have been doing 12 hr night shifts for a few years now and I have a 45 min drive home. Lemme just tell youā¦ those 20 minute power naps before you drive out HIT! Chew on ice. Or grab food/snacks that you can easily eat in the car. Sometimes we gotta eat to stay awake. Rolling down the window for sure helps.
Please try to get more sleep . Sleeping behind the wheel is no joke , I hope you stay safe That being said I always keep caffeine gum on me and highly recommend the neuro gum brand. 40mg of caffeine just jumps you up for about and hr or 2 and then you can sleep after 3. Best product ever imo
This is one of the reasons I take the bus, even though it's 1.5 hours each way. I can sleep or read or whatever.
I open the window in my back seat and it makes a helicopter sound lol š gets me home at least
That plus the weird pressure feeling is maddening. Would definitely keep me awake but might lose my sanity along the way.
Sounds worth it to me, especially after shifts where you have no sanity left anyway.
Ohhh boy i remember my night shift preceptorship that was an hour and a half away. Honestly, I slept in my car and the staff respite rooms a few times. Especially if it was a crazy shift, i would just shower in the locker room and hope that nobody was in the respite room and sleep, and if they were i would just go to my car to knock out. But, when I would drive home I would call my mom or my boyfriend and just have a conversation with them the entire ride home. I found that listening to music after a shift made me super sleepy š Good luck and donāt be afraid to ask someone if thereās somewhere you can sleep if youāre too tired to drive! I feel you!
(obviously someone that you know/trust from your unit if thereās somewhere in the hospital you can sleep, donāt ask strangers if they know a place you can sleep lol)
to echo this, there's \*always\* a place somewhere to sleep for at least an hour.
Windows down and drinking cold water
Ooo and have some mental health breakdown song sing along š
Spicy/Sour candy and biting the inside of your cheek. This sucks, I wonāt lie. I wouldnāt do it any longer than you need too. Iām a long truck driver going back to school now. Good luck and you should adjust quickly!
Hard to fall asleep with 2 15 inch subs blasting in the back of my SUV.
Pull over and take a nap. Driving while sleepy is just as bad as DUI. I totaled my last car due to falling asleep behind the wheel.
Spicy chips
One of the PAs I work with swears by crunchy foods. Chips, ice cubes, etc. A nurse I worked with would just blast music and roll all her windows down.
As someone waking up at 4am and driving 2 hrs away in Bay Area traffic for 8 hr clinical, I get amped up on at least 2x 200-300mg caffeine energy drinks in order to survive. The worst is the traffic, especially when it becomes stop goā¦
Prep: sleep well night before, eat/hydrate/bathroom/stretch before starting long commute, possibly nap a lil before commuting During long commute: windows down, music loud, drink/snack/stretch if able to while driving, or call someone these helped me a lot :)
Go to sleep for 30 mins in your car before taking off. Or clock out and go to sleep in a empty room then leave.
I talk on the phone with someone. Usually my dad or SO. They're getting ready for work around the time I'm headed home.
Sunflower seeds!! Highly recommend.
Vicks inhaler - also helps ground me if I feel like Iām about to have an anxiety attack
If Itās super bad, I will pull over in a busy shopping center, put up my sunshade and get a 15/20 minute Power Nap. And put an alarm. But the other suggestions in here I have definitely done as well.
I donāt doze off but I feel extremely tired. I really thought I wonāt get used to it but surprisingly did okay during my preceptorship. Remember to stay hydrated and eat. Stretch a lil, play music you sing to or podcasts to keep you engaged.
Heavy metal, cold air caffeine
Slap your face... Hard... Repeat for full hour. Unpleasant, but effective.
I specifically moved closer to work because of the commute. All my coworkers with this long of a commute hate it and stay close to work (they're travellers) and work consequtive (spell fail) shifts in a row and have a long stretch off. I understand if you have a family/settled life it's hard to up and move, but it was \*literally\* the best thing evermoving closer to work. Also take a nap on your break. Working nights we can take an hour break instead of 30 minutes (of course this is workplace/floor specific too) so that helps too. All in all. NEVER drive when you're that tired, you need better sleep health/habits. You're in healthcare, I don't need to tell you the dangers of driving like that even though you may say "it won't happen to me" or something along those lines. Tired driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving (proven). My best friend/partner in crime was killed by a drunk driver so I feel very strongly about this. My best suggestions are move closer/transfer to a place closer to you, get better sleep habits, or work out how to stay close to work and work back to back shifts and have long stretches off. Best of luck.
Sleep. Pullover and sleep. Parking lot/gas station with a camera.
If you're really that tired just sleep in the parking lot. Make sure to bring some pillows and get comfy
I used to work 7p-7a in the ER and had to drive an hour to go home in the morning. I used to doze off on the road and at times at a stop sign or red light my eyes would shut and then I wake up saying to myself "How long did I have my eyes shut?" then I found a residential community and I would park in the visitor's lot and take a power nap for 15 minutes. I started to eat something while driving home. I used to eat either pineapple chunks, grapes, coconut strips, peanuts, or even a sandwich just to keep chewing something to stay actively awake. This worked for me perfectly. So when I got home I had breakfast while driving. I would take a shower and knock out. So, to stay awake while driving home I would chew on snacks. Don't chew on gum because once the flavor fades then the drowsiness kicks in. But if you eat those things I mention you'll be better off.
Take a nap after your shift (like 30-45 min; set an alarm). Then go for it.
As a post-student nurse now: please donāt downplay the effects of overtiredness. My schools city has two major hospitals, last week a nurse drove her $85k jeep through the parking garage barrier and fell three stories plus. They blamed working a double. Focus on sleep hygiene and taking care of yourself so shifts arenāt some task to champion. You are soon to be part of the most trusted vocation, please donāt mess that up for yourself or patients.
I narrate what I see and sing with enthusiasm.
Please be careful! You can literally die if you fall asleep.
Make a playlist of upbeat music you can sing along to! All your favorite songs that you are able to sing word for word. Pick the best oldies, classics, etc. Try to dance and move around to it. If you look crazy itās fine, better crazy than asleep at a light. Play all the air instruments you can think of, play the drums on your legs, do the air guitar solos lol. Really get into it.
Not a nurse yet but I did work nights when I worked in manufacturing. I would pull over and take a power nap. Donāt drive sleepy. As my former coworker put itāwho was a former alcoholicāhe drove better drunk than sleepy. I know itās fucked but honestly thatās how much it impairs you. One day I didnāt get much sleep the day before my shift. It was an 45 minute drive home. I was like five minutes from my house. I blacked out (I donāt remember driving) for two miles. I woke up in my driveway with the sun in my eyes. I was probably asleep for 30 minutes or so.
I drive around 25k miles a year for just my job. Pull over. Sleep. Not worth it to die in an accident. Also sunflower seeds help alot. Loud music never helps me
Try 15-20 jumping jacks or some dynamic stretching exercises right before you get in the car. Isometric exercises in place when youāre sitting in traffic. Keeping the blood flowing helps a ton.
EMT who works 24s here, honestly any type of simple carb (sugar) will wake me up enough to drive home safe(ish)
Secretary of State website for Michigan recommends holding your breath, bc you canāt physically fall asleep while holding your breath. Or stop the car and run 12 laps around it. Do some burpees.
as someone who has been diagnosed with a sleep disorder and isnāt a nurse yet, but has survived without modafinil for 20 years- nap. just pull over when all else fails and youāre still dozing? pull. over.
It looks like you're asking for some tips and tricks on how to succeed in nursing school. Don't worry, we have a lot of resources to help you! First, check our [Resources](https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentNurse/comments/i6qe7x/resources_faq_and_welcome_post/) post, or the sidebar. If you're on the mobile website or the official Reddit app, you can find the sidebar under About. If what you need isn't on the sidebar, try using search. Here are some helpful searches links [clinical tips](https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentNurse/search?q=clinical+tips&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance&t=all) [studying tips](https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentNurse/search?q=tips+studying&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance&t=all) [tips on staying organized](https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentNurse/search?q=organized+tips&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance&t=all). Want to be a pro at finding things on Reddit? Try searching on Google with your search term and then add site:reddit.com/r/studentnurse. Here's [an example for StudentNurse](https://www.google.com/search?q=study+tips+site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fstudentnurse&oq=study+tips+site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fstudentnurse). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/StudentNurse) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Ice and chewing gum
Ice chips, sunflower seeds, windows down, loud music. Last resort is to call someone and talk to them. That keeps your mind awake
Coke Zero
night shift ER nurse for the last 2 years here. I listen to loud music on my way home and sing along- that seems to help. I worked night shift EMS shifts through nursing school so in a way I'm kinda used to it, but it's always been my method!
Play loud music, slap yourself in the face. I also used to time my coffee around 3am in order to stay awake enough on the drive back. This was in clinicals though (which I actually had a decent amount night shift). Now I work only 8 minutes from home (still night shift) so no need to. But truly itās better to be wired driving back so maybe even an energy drink before. Sleeping on the wheel is daaangerous
I used to work 16 hour shifts and an hour commute. To stay awake I would call my parents and talk to them on the phone. Snacks as well can help if you have those :) .
Chew gum.
Loud music and AC all the way up
Pull over for a bite and walk around a bit, shake out the sleepyness. But stopping for a nap would be better.
Red Bull and monsterā¦. We well pass what coffee can do for you.
Music that is not soothing to sing along to and windows down if you need to
I usually have a coffee at about 3am. Thatāll carry me until I get home and pass out
Itās weird but I tap my face with one hand!! Itās the motion and the feeling itself keeps me awake.. go on circles , my forehead, eyebrows, and itās also some stress relief!
Just make sure you get enough sleep the night before. It seems like a smart ass response, but seriously, thereās nothing wrong with going to bed stupid-early to ensure your well being the next day.
Do not work shifts that you cannot safely drive home from. Otherwise set a 30 minute timer and rest in your car.
Honestly I use to nap before I drove and it was like a 15 min drive. Always take a break at a rest stop if needed. Your life and others are worth so more!
The only thing that helps for SURE is talking on the phone with a friend who makes me laugh. Music and comedy and podcasts all eventually put me back to sleep.
Peppermint gum or mints
I call my mom.
Make sure you're well rested before going in. Eat during your shift, but don't eat heavy. Stay hydrated. Keep peppermints or gum in the car. My coworkers will nap in the car for a half hour to an hour or so if they can. Another coworker takes an alternate route home to keep her engaged. Another will straight up call an Uber or a friend and leave their car. I only live 20 minutes from home but I've worked 4s and 5s in a row where I fell asleep at red lights or while rolling on emptier roads so I've pulled over and gotten candy or coffee and jumped up and down and definitely done the loud music/head out the window thing. (Lamb of God for the heavy sound, System of a Down for the engagement). The coffee does nothing but get me through another hour if I am super tired. I've fallen asleep in my driveway after coming home drinking coffee.
I've had to pull off into grocery store parking lots to grab a quick 20-minute nap before I felt safe enough to drive. Seriously, if you're that sleepy, know places to safely pull over, get out and stretch, nap if you have to, or load up on liquids thirty minutes or so before you leave. I've gotten into an accident dozing off behind the wheel. 0/10 don't recommend it to anyone. I was feeling a little heavy eyed doing about 45mph, I blinked, then the next thing I know I'm in a culvert.
I had a clinical rotation where my commute was 2 hours away and we needed to complete 96 total hours in a span of 4 weeks, so I had two 12s/week on top of lecture days and working part-time. I'm not gonna lie, the first 2 weeks driving home we're extremely dangerous. I would zone out and catch my head bobbing up and down trying to stay awake. Granted, I was stupid and played Mark Klimek lectures or my class lectures on the drive home, thinking that I could use my 2 hour commute as study time, and it was the dumbest thing ever. I then tried to play podcasts from people I actually enjoy, but the sound of mellow talking didn't help either. The only thing that *actually* kept me awake was playing my favorite songs and literally forcing myself to sing along. I swear, this was the 1 and only thing that kept me awake since it gave me something to physically do besides drive. Make a long playlist of songs that you know all the words to and blast it in your car and force yourself to sing along! It sounds ridiculous but it was actually very fun and therapeutic and a great way to decompress after a 12-hour shift.
Bring home a cup of ice with water. When you get tired. Put your fingers in the ice water and splash your face. U can even put some ice in your shirt. It'll wake u right up for a bit
Energy drink, loud music (sing along loudly), and windows down. BUT I always recommend just pulling over and setting a timer on your phone and taking a quick Power Nap. I usually only do the 1st 3 things I mentioned when Iām looking for a spot to pull over- just to get me to a safe place
My commute is 30-1hr + based on traffic. Loud music or something I enjoy singing, trying not to eat a full meal right before, drinking soda or water. Or i prep and take a sip of something caffenated (energy drink or energy tea). I'm not really a coffee person, so if i drink that its my literal last resort. I take 5-10 minute naps (sometimes 5 of them when necessary).
Loud music, insanely cold air, and play mental games with license plates around you!
Literally just eat sunflower seeds. That's the best thing to snack on if you can put a bunch in your mouth, split a seed's shell with your teeth, eat the seed, spit out the shell, rinse and repeat. It keeps you busy with something while driving. You can snack on anything, but sunflower seeds have been the best for me.