As was foretold, we've added advertisements to the forums! If you have questions, or if you encounter any bugs, please visit this thread: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/240191/forum-advertisement-faq-and-reports-thread/
Options
Staying awake while driving, wtf.
Caramel Genocide
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I have a thing for not wanting to stay awake while I'm driving.
Specifically highway driving, for stretches longer than half an hour. I don't have to do it very frequently, however when I do need to highway drive, it kicks my ass. I'm talking about near narcolepsy type crap here.
The only thing that I have found so far that keeps me awake is eating. And it has to be near constantly. In the interest of not becoming as large as my vehicle, I've been munching on in-shell plain sunflower seeds. I am looking for some other method of staying awake.
Things that have failed so far:
- taking rest/stretch/air breaks
- keeping vehicle cool/cracking windows for constant cool air flow
- chewing gum (not sure why that doesn't work when eating does)
- playing loud music
- caffeine
- being well rested
Specifically highway driving, for stretches longer than half an hour. I don't have to do it very frequently, however when I do need to highway drive, it kicks my ass. I'm talking about near narcolepsy type crap here.
The only thing that I have found so far that keeps me awake is eating. And it has to be near constantly. In the interest of not becoming as large as my vehicle, I've been munching on in-shell plain sunflower seeds. I am looking for some other method of staying awake.
Things that have failed so far:
- taking rest/stretch/air breaks
- keeping vehicle cool/cracking windows for constant cool air flow
- chewing gum (not sure why that doesn't work when eating does)
- playing loud music
- caffeine
- being well rested
Caramel Genocide on
0
This discussion has been closed.
Posts
Hell get a language tape and repeat along with it. Talking and paying attention will keep you sharp.
You need to find things that keep you actively engaged in the world around you. You can put on music because your brain can put it into the background regardless of volume. You can chew gum because it's just chew, chew, chew, (not acquire food, open mouth, insert food, chew, swallow).
Play with me on Steam
music only works for a song or two.
Unless you are already chronically sleep deprived, a half hour of highway driving should not make you want to nod off. Does this happen to you in any other circumstances?
When I drove a lot for work, like over 25k kilometers a month, I used to listen to Coast to Coast am and laugh at all the crazies just to stay awake. The talk radio thing works best if you are listening to something that gets your blood moving, during the day it was Dr. Laura, fuck did I hate that chick.
I've done ridiculously long drives, like 17 hours in a day. What I usually did when getting drowsy was smoke a cig and have a coffee. Obviously bad advice if you don't smoke, not encouraging you to pick it up, but if you do it might help to have one. If that didn't work I would take a break from driving, stretch, get some fresh air.
I dunno though, since you seem to have this problem after a really short period of time of driving, i think just mentally focusing on what you are doing should help. Always have a mental picture of what cars are around you.
in my experience dirty windshields will bring out my eye fatigue within an hour of driving
now i'm pretty anal about keeping it spotless
Oh shit I just realized you that you said both those things don't work. Probably the only things that will work are phone conversations, eating or smoking.
https://medium.com/@alascii
I mean I despise the stuff personally, but when it's something as serious as staying awake on the road I think it's worth the disgustingness of it.
Satans..... hints.....
But please have a doctor check you out, maybe an eye doctor for eye strain?
If I know the road trip, and it's longer than an hour, I usually start dozing off myself. Munchies keep me awake.
I even tend to get it while playing Forza 3 every once in awhile.
The only thing that kept me alive on those days was pretty much a combination of everything you've said has failed
I also kept an energy drink or two in my car at all times so I could crack one open whenever I started to feel it coming on.
Also, echoing someone else, where are you looking while you drive? I find that if I stare straight ahead I start getting drowsy. As long as I'm looking in every direction, glancing all over the place, I do fine.
Any sort of talk keeps me awake better than music...I tend to listen, which means paying attention, which means being engaged. Music, particularly music I know well, leads to zoning, which leads to sleeping.
Some people are the opposite, though, so YMMV.
Also, if you're sure you're getting enough sleep (as in getting to bed early enough and sleeping long enough) but still tired while driving, you may think about checking with a doctor about sleep issues. Undiagnosed sleep apnea (one example of such an issue) isn't unheard of, and leads to a significant number of vehicle crashes each year.
This is the best thing.
When I get drowsy I turn off the radio and belt out show tunes. And I find downloading and listening to say, an episode of This American Life keeps me far more alert than any old radio station.
I seriously used to do the same thing to wake up for school.
All of them.
(May laugh so much you drive into ditch though...)
... also, I taught myself to sing during my commutes, since I had enough time to listen to like 5 full albums per day.
seriously, singing at the top of your lungs should make it near impossible to fall asleep.
He also drives with the window down a crack. Of course, that only works really well in the winter or summer, when the heat or AC is on. The change in temperature helps, I hear.
Other than that, I don't know, really.
edit: I was mostly talking about a choker necklace, or a bowtie or a pendant, or one of many different kinds of clothing/jewelery that people wear all the time.
Maybe you should get a nylabone or a chew toy rather than eating all the time.
Thanks for the input, everyone. I will have an arsenal to try out next time I need to go driving.
To answer a few of the questions:
I do keep my windshield clean.
I live in what seems like the flattest and most boring part of the world. This could be a contributing factor! I do try to focus on the vehicles around me, however it doesn't seem to help.
I suppose sleep apnea is a possiblity, I hadn't thought of that - I do feel well-rested, however it won't hurt to check it out.
caffeine makes you have to piss too. probably moreso than water since it is a diuretic.
Just remember though, it's much better to lose 10 minutes pulling over and resting your eyes rather than unsuccessfully trying to stay awake and putting your car in the ditch. Speaking from experience here.