Do you have trouble staying awake when you attend meetings? Have you ever fallen asleep while listening to clients and bosses at work, professors in college, or pastors at church? If you are physically and mentally tired, listening to speakers with monotone voices can make you nod off.
Even exciting speakers are not spared from the sleepy listener.
While the person at the lectern may or may not be the best motivational speaker, staying awake is very important.
As a former college instructor, I have become angry when I noticed students falling asleep during a class; I am a hypocrite because I myself have had trouble falling asleep during other instructors' class lectures.
When I finally did wake up enough to squint, I typically saw fellow listeners staring at me, not to mention the speaker, who would have enjoyed lifting his lectern and smashing it on my head.
Here are seven personal solutions for staying alert, other than the traditional ways people build up energy, namely, with coffee, energy drinks or playing with a Smartphone.
1.
Do mental calculations.
Think of two numbers and go through the multiplication table you memorized as a child.
If you want to challenge yourself, add or multiply two numbers with two digits.
Of course, don't think about this unless you are in a math class.
2.
Have a coworker or spouse elbow you if you are nodding off.
When I go to church with my wife, she elbows my arm to keep my brain alert and eyes fixed on the minister.
She has saved me from God's wrath many times.
3.
Keep a joke book or memorize jokes to keep your imagination stirred.
Laughter may be the best medicine, especially to those who must listen to speakers who might not last one minute at local comedy clubs.
Every good speech needs a few laughs.
If you don't know any jokes, find some amusing feature about the speaker, such as imagining him or her dressed like a clown, or wearing attire of the opposite sex.
4.
Look forward to a planned event in the near future.
Remember you are not in that meeting forever.
Everyone looks forward to Friday or some vacation time with family and friends.
5.
Stay cool, or cold; do not dress for the weather, especially when it is cold.
If you are a man, don't wear a jacket.
If you are a woman, forget about wearing a skirt because cold weather gives your body a jolt; cool air can make you uncomfortable.
6.
Don't eat too much before the meeting.
Too many calories can make you feel full and lethargic enough to fall asleep.
7.
Hold your bladder.
If you have to do some extremely personal business, hold it until after the speech.
The discomfort should be enough to keep you awake, especially when you must consider the messy alternative scenario.
The methods I have outlined are personal ways to stay awake whenever you attend a meeting.
Being alert is important when you are listening to a speaker.
Whether you are at work, school or church, your mind must be alert or you could be at the wrath of the speaker.
Even exciting speakers are not spared from the sleepy listener.
While the person at the lectern may or may not be the best motivational speaker, staying awake is very important.
As a former college instructor, I have become angry when I noticed students falling asleep during a class; I am a hypocrite because I myself have had trouble falling asleep during other instructors' class lectures.
When I finally did wake up enough to squint, I typically saw fellow listeners staring at me, not to mention the speaker, who would have enjoyed lifting his lectern and smashing it on my head.
Here are seven personal solutions for staying alert, other than the traditional ways people build up energy, namely, with coffee, energy drinks or playing with a Smartphone.
1.
Do mental calculations.
Think of two numbers and go through the multiplication table you memorized as a child.
If you want to challenge yourself, add or multiply two numbers with two digits.
Of course, don't think about this unless you are in a math class.
2.
Have a coworker or spouse elbow you if you are nodding off.
When I go to church with my wife, she elbows my arm to keep my brain alert and eyes fixed on the minister.
She has saved me from God's wrath many times.
3.
Keep a joke book or memorize jokes to keep your imagination stirred.
Laughter may be the best medicine, especially to those who must listen to speakers who might not last one minute at local comedy clubs.
Every good speech needs a few laughs.
If you don't know any jokes, find some amusing feature about the speaker, such as imagining him or her dressed like a clown, or wearing attire of the opposite sex.
4.
Look forward to a planned event in the near future.
Remember you are not in that meeting forever.
Everyone looks forward to Friday or some vacation time with family and friends.
5.
Stay cool, or cold; do not dress for the weather, especially when it is cold.
If you are a man, don't wear a jacket.
If you are a woman, forget about wearing a skirt because cold weather gives your body a jolt; cool air can make you uncomfortable.
6.
Don't eat too much before the meeting.
Too many calories can make you feel full and lethargic enough to fall asleep.
7.
Hold your bladder.
If you have to do some extremely personal business, hold it until after the speech.
The discomfort should be enough to keep you awake, especially when you must consider the messy alternative scenario.
The methods I have outlined are personal ways to stay awake whenever you attend a meeting.
Being alert is important when you are listening to a speaker.
Whether you are at work, school or church, your mind must be alert or you could be at the wrath of the speaker.