As every driver on the road knows, Fatigue is your worst enemy if your a driver.
Are your eyelids sagging as the afternoon wears on? When low energy drags you down, don’t look to a candy bar, cup of coffee, or energy drink for a lift. The sugar and caffeine might give you an immediate pick-me-up, but after that quick high wears off, you’ll crash and feel even more drained if that’s all you count on!
What you need: a lasting solution to keep sluggishness at bay. Here are some fatigue fighters that will leave you feeling refreshed and revitalized.
1. Eat your breakfast. People who eat breakfast every morning report less fatigue and stress than people who skip it. High-fiber foods, like hot oatmeal, stick with you longer than a sweet roll or pastry. As the day wears on, they’ll prevent you from getting hungry(hunger can lead to low energy). As a driver I didn’t eat a lot during the day. Maybe 1 meal because when I’d eat I’d get tired. As drivers, getting tired is the worst so you don’t eat much and when you do you eat one really big meal. The reason you get tired after eating is all about what we’re eating. If like most people we eat HEAVY, (lots of carbs not a lot of protein) then your body has to work extra hard to digest the food you’ve just ate and that in turn makes you tired. Also if you eat a good breakfast high in protein and low calorie you will get you’re metabolism going which is great for energy as well as weight maintenance.
2. Do a downward dog. Some studies have found that yoga, which uses various postures and deep breathing for exercise and meditation, can be an excellent fatigue fighter. Also stretches in the morning before you do anything can help boost your metabolism and loosen you up so you do not pinch muscles during your day.
3. Belt out your favorite tune. Singing gives you a kind of emotional high while it reduces levels of stress hormones in your body. So grab a hairbrush, put on your favorite song, and sing away. If you’re at work and don’t want to face your co-workers’ puzzled stares, you might want to save your vocal stylings for the car or truck. But seriously, As long as you’re not belting out hateful music you will feel a real difference in your day. This is one of the things I did on the road and it did work.
4. Have a drink of water.Dehydration can leave you feeling drained and fatigued. You need to try to get half your body weight in ounces of water everyday. You can tell you’re well hydrated when you don’t feel thirsty and your urine is light-colored. Try to get to the fridge or water cooler for a refill every few hours. The walk there will also help you wake up. If you’re a trucker,try walking around your truck and doing a safety inspection a few times a day. This will also help you wake up.
5. Go nuts. Eat a handful of almonds and peanuts, which are high in magnesium and folate (folic acid). They also are a great way to get in some protein which your body needs. These nutrients are essential for energy and cell production. A lack of these nutrients in your system can leave you feeling weary.
6. Grab a cinnamon stick. Research finds that just a whiff of this scented spice can reduce fatigue and make you feel more alert. No cinnamon handy? Grab a mint from your bag. Peppermint’s sweet aroma is another fatigue fighter.
7. Get moving. Exercise is a natural energy booster, because whenever you do it, oxygen-rich blood surges through your body to your heart, muscles, and brain. Regularly squeezing a workout into your day — even if you can spare only 10 minutes at a time — will help keep your energy levels at their peak. Move around every chance you get, even if it’s just to pace in circles while you’re on the phone.
Get moving
Two hours.
That’s how long you’ll feel revved up after taking just a 10-minute walk, according to a study in Personality and Social Psychology. So if you’re a trucker, that’s perfect for a safety inspection around your truck!
8. Let the sunshine in. Research confirms that just a few minutes of walking outside on a warm, clear day enhances mood, memory, and the ability to absorb new information. Going outside can even improve your self-esteem. If you absolutely can’t get out, at least open the shades.
9. Have a bite. Your brain needs fuel to function at its best. When your blood sugar level drops, your mind will start running on fumes and will feel fuzzy as a result. So if your head is starting to droop, eat a snack that will give you enough energy to take you through the rest of the afternoon. Snacks that combine protein with slow-burning carbs — like banana slices with peanut butter, or granola with fresh berries — are best for maintaining your blood sugar levels over the long term.
10. Hang out with upbeat friends. Emotions are surprisingly contagious. People who are constantly negative and down can sap your energy, while those who are always up and excited can give you a real lift. For all you drivers, this means to listen to upbeat books on cd or on satellite radio like Tony Robbins or Jim Rohn. Listen to Twelve Pillars by Jim Rohn. If you want things to change for the better, you must first change! Talk radio for the most part is pretty negative and the job of talk radio is to get you angry. Anger equals RATINGS! But it also equals fatigue! If you want more suggestions about other things to listen to or read, please message us and ask! We’ll be glad to offer you more suggestions.
As a former OTR driver for many years, I wish I had known these things back then. Maybe I would have listened and maybe I wouldn’t. The point is that I would at least have liked to have had the information to make my own decision about the facts. What I use now when I get fatigued is something
called LIFTOFF
- Convenient, individually wrapped and pocket-size
- Available in Ignite-Me Orange, Lemon-Lime Blast, Pomegranate-Berry Burst and Tropical-Fruit Force
- Effervescent tablet form
- Helps you stay alert and focused with caffeine*
- Supports brain function, accelerates memory recall† and helps reduce the feeling of mental fatigue with ginsenosides*
- Specially formulated with 351 mg of a unique energy blend that includes panax ginseng, L-taurine, caffeine, guarana extract and inositol
- Loaded with Vitamin C and energy-supporting B vitamins: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7 and B12*
And I use Tea!
- A blend of green, black and orange pekoe teas provides antioxidant support.
- Variety of refreshing flavors
- In bottles and packets
- Enjoy hot or cold
Convenient, on-the-go powder form.
Herbal Tea Concentrate contains caffeine which jump-starts your metabolism and provides a boost to help you feel revitalized. For optimum experience, mix a a little more than ½ teaspoon with 8 ounces of water. This refreshing, low-calorie tea is available in a variety of flavors.
This refreshing, low-calorie tea contains caffeine which is known for its temporary thermogenic (metabolism-boosting) benefits.
- Jump-starts thermogenic (metabolic) activity
- Boosts the feeling of energy
- Provides antioxidant support
- Instant and low-calorie