A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

how to stay awake at the computer - sleepyhead

Posted: Nov 01, 2011

I just started a new MT job with our local university and am thrilled because it's full time, hourly, with fabulous benefits. In my 30 years transcribing, this is the best deal yet. However, it's difficult moving from a home office to a public office because I can't stop and take a nap when I get sleepy. Today I found myself starting to nod off! I tried making "deals" with myself, such as "Just stay awake and then you can take a nap as soon as you get home." Seriously, it's a problem. Coffee helps somewhat, but then I'm up all night. What are some tricks that you guys use to keep your eyes open when you're typing mundane reports when you're not in the comfort of your own home?

Don't eat carbs and exercise regularly. - 5 hour energy helps too

[ In Reply To ..]
5-hour energy is wonderful! if you can't go low-carb on your diet. Also, regular exercise keeps your body alive so you don't nod off. We had a radiologist that would hit the treadmill while dictating if he started nodding off. I tried it, and it does work. There are lots of ways to keep energy going. Carbs will put you to sleep, so watch those.

Atkins Protein Shakes are great for a pick-me-up too - AnaPhylaxis

[ In Reply To ..]
Keep things full of protein, such as Atkins protein shakes (really low sugar and packed with protein, more than the usual "energy" drinks), raw almonds or sunflower seeds, carrot sticks or celery sticks are also good if you can take a quick break to stretch your legs and nibble on something. Also, try to have a salad for lunch instead of the usual sandwich, burrito, etc. As the poster above said, those carbs will make you want to take a snooze every time.

I've worked nights for years and these are just a few of my tricks for staying alert...The others wouldn't work in an office setting as they involving blasting a tune or two off of YouTube and dancing with my little dog or walking around the pool area a couple of times with my chihuahua, LOL!

You've got a GREAT job...Just remember that and also remember that you can do it!

As a last resort, you can talk to your doc about a script for ProVigil. I worked with a woman who wore by it since she had a little issue with narcolepsy that was jeopardizing her job, but I always try the natural route before hitting the stimulant pills.

Hang in there!

Atkins protein shakes - sleepyhead

[ In Reply To ..]
That's a terrific idea! Well, ALL of the ideas by posters here are terrific. I'm going to try the Atkins. You're right, I have a great job. I'm so blessed I can hardly believe it. All of our local hospitals and clinics have dumped their transcription departments and sold out to Nuance. The university health center is student-based and not affiliated with the hospitals or local clinics. Eventually my job may go by the wayside if EHR takes over, but so far our doctors are still dictating. In fact, we don't even have voice recognition! Straight typing only. Can you believe it?

Get up and stretch at your desk - Happy MT Robin

[ In Reply To ..]
The tendency is to just sit there working away for a couple of hours. Bring a little clock with you that you can set to remind you unobtrusively to get up and stretch every hour. Even walk from one end of the corridor and back if you won't get too much flack for leaving your desk. You've got to get your blood moving, though.

Totally agree with the no carb suggestion. Make sure your breakfast is a protein of some sort - NOT cereal. The only people who think cereal is good for you for breakfast are the people who manufacture it. It's great for dinner or an evening snack, though - puts you right to sleep.

Make lunch as light as you can get away with and, again, go low carb as much as you can. Bring snacks like veggies, cheese sticks, etc, for when you get the munchies. All of your blood goes to your stomach when you're digesting food, so you don't want to put a big burden in your stomach and divert your blood flow from your brain.

I'm not a fan of the energy drinks, but I know a lot of people who swear by them.

Water. Water. Water. Water. Again, this is effective only if you don't get flack for getting up to go to the potty all of the time. There are documented studies that show that if you keep yourself hydrated, your blood moves easier and you don't feel as sluggish.

Regular exercise outside of work does wonders for keeping your metabolism going and keeping the sluggishness away. If you don't already have an exercise program, look into starting one. Just 30 minutes a day makes a HUGE difference.

If you take a vitamin in the morning, consider taking it at night. Vitamins make me sleepy so I have to take them in the evening and not in the morning.

Good luck. I've been where you are. I was taking Effexor at one point and I think I slept through an entire month. Horrible experience.

Coffee works for me! Sm - Old Woman

[ In Reply To ..]
I think you and I might be close to the same age, judging from your length of time as an MT. I work the graveyard shift and sometimes find myself nodding off. I brew a strong pot of coffee and it seems to do the trick. I have absolutely no problem with sleeping afterward, but coffee never did affect me in that way.

The other suggestion would be to keep a glass or bottle of water at your desk. Often, grogginess is a very early symptom of dehydration.

Glad to hear you have landed a peachy job!! Congrats!

SLEEPY - bunchbradymom

[ In Reply To ..]
I am a third shifter... 8 hours of solid sleep... that is my SECRET weapon... I started out my first week with the 5 hour energy, but found that a good solid 8 hours of sleep keeps me refreshed all night.. can't split it up 3 here and 5 there... solid 8 in a row...so I'd say no TV at night, and early to bed... :) hope this helps!

You've motivated me! - sleepyhead

[ In Reply To ..]
Everybody, thank you SO much, for your wonderful suggestions. Number 1: I'll take more protein and fewer carbs to work. That seems like an easy solution, along with going outside and walking on breaks and lunch. And, like you said, water water water. I can't take the 5-Hour Energy because I have really high blood pressure already.

Neat tips! - Cheesey

[ In Reply To ..]
I work second shift. Right around the 9 p.m. mark I just hit a wall.

Caffeine just does not work for me at all, no matter where it comes from. Coffee, which I don't like, mountain dew, 5-hour energy, monsters...all that stuff doesn't do a thing for me...whether for work or for just wanting to stay up later at night. I drank 5 cans of mountain dew to help me stay awake for New Years...didn't work! I just had to pee a lot lol. Still barely made it. Sleepy as all can be!

As for the less carb thing...well, I go on a few hour hikes with my dogs every morning before work. I kind of need that fuel.

Any other snacks to nibble on while at the desk?

Cheesey - ERMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm trying to do low carb right now and have found that I don't hit that wall at about 2 pm that I used to when I just ate whatever. My new favorite snack is string cheese and Claussen pickles. Weird but it works.

Also, Atkins has snack bars that are GREAT. I'm not being crazy about the whole low carb thing, but I have found that if I exercise in the morning and stay away from a lot of bread and refined sugars, I have so much more energy and am losing a little weight.

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