It is imperative that you stay awake at work lest you get fired.  With the many expenses of every family nowadays, no one can survive without a paycheck unless she’s an heir of some million-dollar company.  But the rich are few; many are on the average-earning ground if not below average.  So for most of us who cannot afford to lose our jobs, let us invest in our health by taking healthy measures to stay awake while on duty.

Ditch the coffee habit or anything else that’s super high in sugar.  Their effects are short-term and the risk of developing substance dependency is high with these types of wake-uppers.  Not only that, when you already got used to drinking coffee every day, you could get a headache just from missing a cup for one day.

Stimulants are great for short term effects, such as getting you going, but more natural ways to stay awake include getting a good night’s rest, eating healthy food and exercising.

Here are healthier and more natural ways to stay awake:

* People who work in desk jobs may find that sedentary lifestyle doesn’t contribute to staying awake on the job. One great way to stay awake when you spend hours in front of the computer is to get up and move around at least once an hour for about five minutes.  If your job doesn’t let you move away from the computer, standing up and walking in place is a good way to go. By moving around, you are increasing circulation, stimulating muscles, raising your heart rate and respiration and telling your body it needs to be active.

* Exercising late at night can keep you awake. It stimulates your heart rate, your respiration and circulation. If you’re about to pull a late night or an all-nighter studying, spend thirty minutes exercising. Cardio based exercise (walking, running, biking, swimming and dancing) is some of the better ways to rev your engines, stimulate your mind and keep you awake. People who exercise in the early morning before work generally feel more alert and active throughout their day.

* Eating fresh fruit is another good way to stay awake. Fresh fruit contains natural sugars which help you stay awake, higher water content which helps hydrate you and basic fiber, all of which are sources of energy. Remember to avoid dairy, turkey and whole grains if you’re trying to stay awake.

* Turning the temperature down and making it a little chilly, but not cold can also help you stay awake. Many people experience sleepiness when it’s extremely warm. Opening your window to cold air or turning on the air conditioner in your car when you’re driving can help you wake up. Splashing cold water on your face, hands and wrists can also have an anti-sleep effect on you, but cold water splashing is not a long term wake up call.