How to Stay Alert and Concentrate When Mentally Tired

  • Thread starter Thread starter Evo
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AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around feelings of mental and physical exhaustion while trying to complete work tasks, particularly network designs. The original poster expresses frustration at being unable to focus and the pressure of looming deadlines. Suggestions from others include taking breaks, getting fresh air, and using music as a motivational tool, with some humor about procrastination and the challenges of working late. The conversation touches on the effectiveness of different types of music for concentration, with a lighthearted exchange about personal preferences. There are also comments on the dangers of driving while tired and the importance of getting adequate sleep. Overall, the thread highlights common struggles with work fatigue and the search for strategies to regain focus and productivity.
Evo
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I'm still sitting in my office, everyone else has been gone for hours. I don't think I've managed to get 30 minutes of actuall work accomplished all day. :frown:

I know I am mentally tired, I think I woke up 30 times last night. I "must" get these network designs out to my clients if I want any chance of winning the bids. I'm just sitting here staring at this stuff and nothing's clicking.

I know if I take this stuff home to work on it I will just end up going to sleep. Anyone have any nifty ideas on how to become alert? Caffeine has no affect on me, I can drink a couple of cups of coffee and fall asleep right away.

Yeah, I'm procrastinating even more by posting this. :blushing:
 
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Perhaps you are physically exhausted (or just me projecting, lol) in which case it is time for a good slumber session (goofing on computer does not count as sleep). It is difficult to concentrate when you’re tired. If it’s something else on your mind then I cannot help you because I’ve always had this effect on the ladies.
 
BoulderHead said:
Perhaps you are physically exhausted (or just me projecting, lol) in which case it is time for a good slumber session (goofing on computer does not count as sleep). It is difficult to concentrate when you’re tired. If it’s something else on your mind then I cannot help you because I’ve always had this effect on the ladies.
You know I can't concentrate when you are around. :!)

I am mentally and physically drained. :frown: Unfortunately the work keeps piling up.

I could crawl under my desk and take a nap (like George on the old Seinfeld show). Unfortunately the cleaning people and security will both be coming along in a bit.

Maybe I should just give up and go home.
 
"Ladies and gentlemen take my advice, pull down your pants [support hose] and slide on the ice". :biggrin:
 
Do what everyone else does: give the work to someone under you. Unless, of course, you are at the bottom of the totem pole. Interns are particulary suited for the job
 
Having some wild time in bed will cure you, guaranteed.
 
I've been staying up too late a lot lately as well. I drove home from work yesterday and I don't remember 3/4 of the drive. A couple of times I felt myself nod off and then I'd jerk awake and make sure I was still on the road. It would scare me enough to keep me awake for about 2 minutes, then I'd start drifting off again. Thankfully I got about 7 hours sleep last night, and it looks like rain tomorrow so I can sleep in. Just go home Evo. get a good nights sleep and work twice as hard tomorrow.
 
Unfortunately I need to do this type of design myself, that's what I do, after I design it I can hand it off to my support people to get pricing, provisioning, etc...
 
Go get take-out food and bring it back to the office. I have the same problem if I'm that tired and take work home, I just fall asleep and don't do it anyway, but if I stay at the office and take a dinner break there, it gets me revitalized enough to keep going for a few more hours. Sometimes a refreshing cold drink works better than coffee. Just the walk to the car and back will help get you woken up a bit too.
 
  • #10
tumor said:
Having some wild time in bed will cure you, guaranteed.
That's not likely to happen, I live with cats and a dog. They're pretty sound sleepers, not much for partying.
 
  • #11
Tumor didn't suggest that anyone else would be present.
 
  • #12
tribdog said:
I've been staying up too late a lot lately as well. I drove home from work yesterday and I don't remember 3/4 of the drive. A couple of times I felt myself nod off and then I'd jerk awake and make sure I was still on the road. It would scare me enough to keep me awake for about 2 minutes, then I'd start drifting off again.
Trib, that's dangerous!

Just go home Evo. get a good nights sleep and work twice as hard tomorrow.
That's what I think every night.

Moonbear I just ate and now my eyes are snapping shut. I guess it's time to give up and go home. Feed the animals, crawl into bed with my laptop and end up staying up all night on PF. :blushing:
 
  • #13
Ivan Seeking said:
Tumor didn't suggest that anyone else would be present.
:smile: :smile: :smile:
 
  • #14
Evo said:
Trib, that's dangerous!
Danger is my middle name.
 
  • #15
Music helps motivate and energize me.
 
  • #16
Evo said:
crawl into bed with my laptop and end up staying up all night on PF. :blushing:

With your laptop? CALL ME ! I will be there in no time. :biggrin:
 
  • #17
tumor said:
With your laptop? CALL ME ! I will be there in no time. :biggrin:
So, you want my laptop! :devil:
 
  • #18
Evo said:
So, you want my laptop! :devil:


Both :wink:
 
  • #19
I would have to agree with Kerrie that music is a good motivator. Make sure the music has a good beat and not too mellow. I find that some good heavy metal gives me that extra boost I need to finish a task. Whatever you do, don't get too motivated and jump on your chair trying to sing one of those songs, as you might fall and hurt yourself.
 
  • #20
tribdog said:
Danger is my middle name.
Wha?.. How many middle names do you have!??
 
  • #21
let's see, danger, spontaneous, alias, loverboy, Brian. 5 I have 5.
 
  • #22
dduardo said:
I would have to agree with Kerrie that music is a good motivator. Make sure the music has a good beat and not too mellow. I find that some good heavy metal gives me that extra boost I need to finish a task. Whatever you do, don't get too motivated and jump on your chair trying to sing one of those songs, as you might fall and hurt yourself.
So, I should cut back on the Gregorian Chants?
 
  • #23
tumor said:
Having some wild time in bed will cure you, guaranteed.
"Interns are particulary suited for the job" :-p

Instead of trying to drink coffee, a stimulant, try drinking alcohol, a depressant. If your mind is all over the place, like mine, things like coffee make the problem a lot worse. Alcohol, on the other hand, will dull the mind a little and drown out all the garbage thoughts to leave perfect mental focus. Sometimes a focused half-brain is better than a normal scattered brain.
 
  • #24
Evo said:
So, I should cut back on the Gregorian Chants?

Evo, your not that old (or are you?) :smile: :smile:

Actually, my music professor got his Phd in Gregorian Chant. I don't know how, but he did. I'm not sure how useful gregorian chants are nowadays.

You might want to stick with country or some other pop music
 
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  • #25
dduardo said:
Actually, my music professor got his Phd in Gregorian Chant. I don't know how, but he did. I'm not sure how useful gregorian chants are nowadays.
Actually with a little banjo and harmonica accompaniment, Gregorian Chants are pretty catchy.

I actually like Gregorian Chant.

I can't stand popular or country music. I listen to alternative and classical music mostly depending on my mood.
 
  • #26
I couldn't even begin to imagine what Palestrina's music would sound like with hillbilly accompaniment.
 
  • #27
tribdog said:
Danger is my middle name.
Your real name is Tribdangerdog?
:smile:
 
  • #28
Are you upgrading an existing network or completely starting from scratch?
Sometimes I need to just physically get away from my work when I get that 'stuck' feeling. Just the proximity of the pending task, even if I am not working on it, bothers me and hinders progress. I don't know what the weather's like where you are, but maybe a walk would clear your head? The fresh air and getting my circulation going seems to do wonders for my mental state and my creative thinking.
 
  • #29
You've been given some good advice here Evo, I say ignore it all. Be bullheaded, doodle on a scratch pad, catch up on your mentoring duties, and give work at most 10% of your attention. that's what I'd do.
 
  • #30
tribdog said:
You've been given some good advice here Evo, I say ignore it all. Be bullheaded, doodle on a scratch pad, catch up on your mentoring duties, and give work at most 10% of your attention. that's what I'd do.
Yep, that's what I'm doing. I also just ordered the 3 CD "Polka Magic" set, 100 of your all time polka favorites. If that doesn't set my toe to tapping, I don't know what will. I know my co-workers will all smile and nod appreciatively when I crank that up (I wouldn't want to leave them out). :biggrin:

MIH, the windchill was 10 below zero the other night, but it's supposed to warm up tomorrow.

__________________
C'mon, there's got to be at least ONE nice single guy out there
 
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  • #31
Evo said:
MIH, the windchill was 10 below zero the other night, but it's supposed to warm up tomorrow.
I swear, a chill ran down my back and my nipples got hard reading that.
 
  • #32
Evo said:
Yep, that's what I'm doing. I also just ordered the 3 CD "Polka Magic" set, 100 of your all time polka favorites. If that doesn't set my toe to tapping, I don't know what will. I know my co-workers will all smile and nod appreciatively when I crank that up (I wouldn't want to leave them out). :biggrin:

MIH, the windchill was 10 below zero the other night, but it's supposed to warm up tomorrow.

__________________
C'mon, there's got to be at least ONE nice single guy out there

Evo ! I'm still waiting for your call or e-mail, and never mind that laptop :wink:
 
  • #33
tumor said:
Evo ! I'm still waiting for your call or e-mail, and never mind that laptop :wink:
If only you weren't so young. :wink:
 
  • #34
Is 38 years too young?
Anyway, Evo you should take down your sexy avatar and replace it with something less appealing otherwise I will always bug you and finally I'm going to weasel out date with you.
 
  • #35
tumor said:
Is 38 years too young?
Anyway, Evo you should take down your sexy avatar and replace it with something less appealing otherwise I will always bug you and finally I'm going to weasel out date with you.
38? Why do I think you are a high school student?

Ok, I'll put up a picture of me when I wake up in the morning and scare everyone. :smile:
 
  • #36
Evo said:
38? Why do I think you are a high school student?

Tell me why please and I change for better.
 

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