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September 11, 2007 2:05 PM

meeting narcoleptic

I cannot stay awake in meetings. I just can't. It doesn't matter how much sleep I got the night before, or how much coffee I pour down my throat.

I can drink a quad shot americano DURING a meeting and still nod off.

at this point, im starting to wonder if its psychological.

suggestions? hints? advice?

posted by nihlton to Work & Money (25 answers total)

I usually get to the meeting room first and make sure the air-con isn't blowing too warm.
posted by essexjan at 2:17 PM on September 11, 2007

Don't go to meetings. Decline as many as possible. Only go to meetings in which you must be actively involved. Active involvement helps you stay awake. Take notes if you're not talking.
posted by crazycanuck at 2:17 PM on September 11, 2007

I meant to add the reason why. It's because it's easier to set the temperature a little too cold before everyone else arrives and then object if they want it warmer. People are often too polite to want to disagree, and it's always more difficult to mess with the thermostat when there's other people in the room.
posted by essexjan at 2:20 PM on September 11, 2007

If you *only* fall asleep at meetings, this won't be much help, but if you start to fall asleep when things slow down, you could have a thyroid problem. If you have gained weight recently, your skin is dry or your hair is thinning, it's worth checking out.
posted by misha at 2:26 PM on September 11, 2007

Seconding crazycanuck. Physical motion will wake you up or keep you awake, so find excuses to move. Be the guy/gal who always adjusts the projector, fiddles with the window blinds, passes out the handouts, etc. If you have to stay in your chair, take notes (or doodle, even). If you volunteer to write up minutes for the meeting that will give you a real incentive to take good notes.
posted by Quietgal at 2:32 PM on September 11, 2007

essexjan, making it colder makes some of us go to sleep. Cold meetings make me sleepy.

I try a couple of things - bringing a cup of water to sip on. Sometimes I keep trying to sip even when there's only that microscopic droplet at the bottom of the cup, clinging to the styrofoam.

Right before the meeting, I go somewhere out of sight for a second or three and jump up and down a few times to get the blood pumping.

If that fails, I just take notes furiously. I've fallen asleep while taking notes, and wake up to jibberish still being put out by my moving hand. At least that perhaps gives the appearance of still being awake, and so one or two nods may go unnoticed.
posted by cashman at 2:33 PM on September 11, 2007

there's almost certainly a psychological component. I got used to sleeping in class while in undergrad (serious sleep deprivation), and now that I've returned to school I'm having trouble staying awake in class even though I'm not sleep-deprived anymore. By taking notes, fidgeting, etc., I'm improving, but it's hard to change.
posted by Chris4d at 2:44 PM on September 11, 2007

Wow, I'm glad I don't go to a lot of meetings.

Having said that, and in the spirit of being helpful, I agree that you should avoid as many as you can. I, like others here, am guessing that you aren't an active participant in the meetings during which you're dozing off.

If you can't, I find that drinking cold, cold water helps when I'm in a similar situation. I've heard that too-cold water can slow down digestion, which doesn't sound too good, but I prefer that to nodding off at an inopportune time.

Also, I'd like to second the idea of taking in some medical attention, especially if this is happening OUTSIDE of meetings too.
posted by Richat at 2:48 PM on September 11, 2007

do you contribute to these meetings (make a presentation, deliver expert advice) or do you sit and nod silently while jotting down some doodles ?

One of the best way to speed up a meeting is to remove the chairs from the meeting room. Do you think you can fall asleep standing instead of sitted ?
posted by Baud at 2:53 PM on September 11, 2007

Thirding taking notes furiously. I find the concentration it requires keeps me awake. I guess my mind needs the stimulation. (the same trick is how I got through undergrad lectures - and in fact it's a useful trick because I actually internalized the information instead of letting it fly past.)

Also: on days when I bike to work I have more energy and am less likely to nod off. Consider exercising more, especially in the morning.
posted by PercussivePaul at 2:54 PM on September 11, 2007

Seconding and thirding previous comments such as movement before going into the meeting (jumping jacks, stairs, etc.) and having something to do while in the meeting. I liked having something to drink. Note taking never worked for me.

If you don't have to pay much attention, listen to a favorite song before going in and keep the tune going in your head for as long as possible.

For a trick that makes you appear attentive, look at the other people in the room (one by one) and try to get in their heads (or other places).
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 2:57 PM on September 11, 2007

Nthing the drink water (during the meeting) and take notes.
posted by dpx.mfx at 3:04 PM on September 11, 2007

This happens to me all the time. Here are a few things that work for me

* Take a bathroom break. Walk around.
* Get involved in the meeting, if you can.
* Take notes, or fidget your pen.
* Take a deep breath with your mouth, a few times.
posted by cior at 3:05 PM on September 11, 2007

If it's permissible within the context of the meeting: Bring something small and very flavorful that you can eat unobtrusively when you feel like you're losing it:wasabi peas or tic-tacs are my items of choice; Altoids work if you don't make noise with the tin. The wasabi peas are esp good for the jolt.
posted by LobsterMitten at 3:38 PM on September 11, 2007

During college I found that I would fall asleep in lectures that were too "easy" - I needed something to keep my brain active while the teacher was explaining something that I already understood. I found that a crossword puzzle was the perfect solution. It only requires my attention for tiny segments of time (long enough to fill in one clue), so I can easily snap my focus back and forth between the puzzle and what's going on around me. I tried sudoku, but even the easy ones require me to hold too much stuff in my head at once to be effective for this multi-threaded approach to paying attention. I'm not sure how well crosswords would go over in your meeting environment, or whether they'd even be noticed, but they could be worth a shot if you wouldn't get in trouble.

Another trick I use in meetings nowdays is to rephrase everything everyone says, in my head, in a different accent or speech pattern. How would my coworker's last comment have come out if a stereotypical redneck were trying to get the same point across? What if Sir Ian McKellan had said it? How would I say it in French (a language whose grammar and vocabulary needs to be dredged up from the deepest recesses of my brain)? This game helps keep your brain active and awake, while also keeping you focused on the substance of what's being said (unlike other mind games you could be playing to stay awake, which are basically distractions).
posted by vytae at 3:42 PM on September 11, 2007 [1 favorite]

I do two things: (1) get some exercise shortly before the meeting, run around the block or something. (2) take notes, but not for the notes' sake. I continuously write during the meeting (or training session, even worse), trying to perfect my handwriting. Bonus: later I have notes.

Sometimes during training I try to be annoying guy who always has a question or something to add. It keeps me awake, and makes the PHBs think I care. Everyone else wants to stab me though.
posted by ctmf at 4:18 PM on September 11, 2007

I cannot stay awake in meetings.

How long are the meetings, i.e. is there some timeframe when you can stay awake?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:40 PM on September 11, 2007

One thing to consider, perhaps, is whether you want to be awake during those meetings. If not, you definitely need to find a way to not attend. If you do, then the tips given above are a great start :)
posted by wackybrit at 4:46 PM on September 11, 2007

Don't discount the possibility that you actually have a sleep disorder. Do you have a serious caffeine habit? Normally wake up tired? Nap during lunch, or right after work? Nod off on public transport, or while reading? Do you snore? Apnoea (obstructions causing snoring and disturbed sleep) is the most common sleep disorder; up to 30% of people are estimated to have it.

If any of these are the case, ask your doctor for a referral to a sleep clinic.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 4:49 PM on September 11, 2007

Can you bring a laptop on and surf the web (discreetly)? I had never ever fallen asleep in class before regardless of how bad my hangover/how late I had been up studying the night before, until I was in a class that didn't allow laptops, the sort of constant mental stimulation of just looking over the nytimes or something totally keeps me awake and I can still pay attention.
posted by whoaali at 5:24 PM on September 11, 2007

Transferrence. You hate the meetings--it is psychological.
posted by Ironmouth at 5:25 PM on September 11, 2007

Chew gum.
posted by infinityjinx at 5:59 PM on September 11, 2007

sounds like you may have sleep apnea.

i used to be unable to stay awake in meetings - to the point where coworkers put cartoons about it on conference room doors. i was diagnosed with sleep apnea, started sleeping with a cpap machine, and suddenly had restful sleep. it totally redefined my relationship with caffeine and other uppers.

also, i don't worry about falling asleep while driving anymore.
posted by rmd1023 at 6:06 PM on September 11, 2007

I have the exact same problems, mainly in meetings that I am not actively involved with, however often I get yawny even in 1-on-1 meetings I am actively involved with.

The best thing I've been able to come up with is constantly keeping a large bottle of water at my fingertips. When I start to get bored in a meeting, I try to unobtrusively see how fast I can drink the water. It usually takes 3 or 4 pick-up, open, drink, close, set-down repetitions to empty the bottle. Once its empty I get up to go refill it. Soon you'll find yourself also needing to get up to use the bathroom more often. This all serves to A) keep you busy, focused on something, and B) keep you hydrated, which will help you stay awake better than coffee, if you can kick the habit and make the move permanent.

Neither staying hydrated nor relieving yourself are considered rude in most meeting-oriented cultures, so you can usually get away with this without much comment. If someone does comment, you can mention that your doc has you on some medication which has a side effect of chronic dehydration. That'll shut them up. Not that I've tried...
posted by allkindsoftime at 6:17 AM on September 12, 2007

Specific things that help me:

• Say something. The physical act of talking helps me stay awake.
• Excuse yourself and go splash cold water on your face.
• Bite your tongue or your cheek. Pinch yourself. Pain usually = awake.
• Fidget, discreetly. Bounce your foot up and down, or curl and uncurl your toes.
• Be sure you're not sabotaging yourself. Eat a protein-based snack before you go into the meeting, and try not to set yourself up for a sugar crash during the meeting. Alternatively, take hard candy with you so you can stay "up" on the sugar rush until the meeting is over.

Oh, and a warning about taking "notes" - Be discreet if you wind up writing way more than everyone else. I didn't realize I was being so obvious about it until a coworker finally asked me what I was always writing in meetings. Couldn't tell her I was writing out the lyrics to the Lambchop song that was stuck in my head that day ... awkward.
posted by Jaie at 9:40 AM on September 12, 2007