Coffee works, but it's not the only lever. Here are seven ways to feel more awake, starting with the free ones.
1. Get light early
Bright light, ideally daylight, soon after waking helps set your body clock. Even ten minutes outside can help.
2. Protect your sleep
Most tiredness is a sleep problem. A consistent bedtime and wake time does more than any supplement.
3. Move
A short walk or a few minutes of stairs raises alertness quickly, and it's a good afternoon slump fix.
4. Drink water
Mild dehydration can make you feel sluggish. Keep a bottle nearby.
5. Eat for steady energy
Meals with protein and fibre avoid the spike and crash that comes from sugary snacks.
6. Try a cold finish
Turning the shower cold for the last 30 seconds is an easy way to wake up.
7. Use less caffeine, more deliberately
If you do want caffeine, a smaller dose timed well often beats a big coffee. A MindStrips Energy strip has 50mg caffeine (about half a cup of coffee) with 30mg L-theanine and vitamin B12, and dissolves on your tongue in seconds. Keep your total under the FDA's 400mg daily guidance, and stop early enough for sleep. Our caffeine cutoff calculator helps you work out when.
Want caffeine-free focus instead? Look at Mushroom Focus Strips, or take the quiz.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.