[Brad Lockyer]

When you don’t get enough sleep, trying to get anything done the next day can be a struggle. But since under-sleeping is so common, is there anything we can do to combat the tiredness the next day?

Yes, according to Dr Wladislaw Rivkin, who says a lack of sleep impedes your ability to exert willpower, which in turn will stop you concentrating on the task at hand.

But Dr Rivkin says these three steps can help you regain that focus when you’re running on empty.

Be strategic about your to-do list

Because you will be severely lacking energy, Dr Rivkin suggests striking anything from your list that requires a lot of willpower to complete. That’s not always going to be possible, so in that case schedule the most energy-intensive tasks for earlier in the day.

Reframe your mindset

When you’re tired, performing everyday tasks can seem to sap your energy even faster than normal. Dr Rivkin suggests reframing how you view this ‘energy’.

If you view your energy as something finite, that can be depleted, then once you run out you may think that’s it for the day. But if you view your own internal energy as endless, Dr Rivkin says this can trick your brain into feeling less tired when you use a lot of energy – because your brain believes there is more energy in reserve.

Change your situation

If you find you’re struggling to cope in your current environment after not sleeping, consider changing the environment you’re in. This could be as simple as taking your laptop into a different room to work.

Dr Rivkin explains “If you’re on a diet, it’s easier not to buy chocolate in the supermarket in the first instance than to refrain from eating it every time you open the kitchen cupboard.”

Removing yourself from distractions will help you focus more on the task at hand.

Watch a funny video

This one might sound weird, but watching a video that makes you laugh can instantly make you feel better. The pleasure chemicals flooding your brain have been shown to also improve your alertness and concentration.

What do you do after a bad night’s sleep?

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