How to Stay Awake Without Caffeine

Staying awake when you are tired can be very difficult. Whether you are trying to work, get through a day after a sleepless night, or recovering from travel, it is possible to help yourself feel awake, alert, and energetic without having to resort to using caffeine or other medications. Getting a good night’s sleep every night is the best long-term solution to chronic fatigue, but there are also many other methods to keep yourself awake and alert.

1

Go outside. Any change of environment can be good, but a walk outside in the fresh air and sunlight is invigorating. Take a break and walk around for a few minutes. Or, if you are able, move your work outside for a little while. ^[1]

• If you cannot go outside, try opening a window for fresh air, or at least sitting near a window with curtains or blinds drawn back to let in natural sunlight.

2

Turn on the lights. Though natural light is the best, any increase in light can be a shot to your senses and give you a “wake up” surge. ^[2] If you are unable to access natural light, blue light that is present in LED screens has also showed benefits to wakefulness ^[3]

3

Take a break from screen time. Looking at screens like your TV or Computer can lead to visual and mental fatigue. Take a break from the screens and do something with pen and paper. Try stretching your vision by looking at things close up and then far away, alternating very quickly. ^[4]

4

Turn up the music. Pumping up the volume on your favorite jams and singing along will help you feel more awake. You may need to use headphones if you are in an office setting or if there are other people around. ^[5]

• Be sure to select songs that are upbeat and peppy.
• Get a bonus energy surge by dancing along with the music.

5

Turn the temperature down. Colder rooms are more likely to make you feel alert. Working in an environment that is hot and stuffy can make you feel like you need to nap. Turn down the thermostat and open a window if it is cool outside. If it is a hot day, try turning on a fan and the air conditioning if applicable. ^[6]

^{Method 2 of 4: Consuming Energy-Boosting Foods}

1

Drink water. Staying naturally hydrated with water will help you feel more alert. The act of drinking water interrupts other work, which gives you a “mini break,” and hydration helps your body function smoothly, which helps you feel awake. ^[7]

2

Increase your protein and healthy fat consumption. Foods that are high in protein^[8] and healthy fats^[9] provide sustained energy that releases slowly into your body.

• These foods do not lead to a blood sugar or energy “crash” like sugary or caffeinated food and drink.
• These foods also help make you feel full longer, which may help you avoid snacking on sugary foods.

2

Increase your protein and healthy fat consumption. Foods that are high in protein^[8] and healthy fats^[9] provide sustained energy that releases slowly into your body.

• These foods do not lead to a blood sugar or energy “crash” like sugary or caffeinated food and drink.
• These foods also help make you feel full longer, which may help you avoid snacking on sugary foods.

4

Eat breakfast every morning. While this may not help an immediate need for energy, if you have a chronic problem with feeling tired, eating a healthy breakfast every morning will help you feel more energetic. It gets your metabolism functioning smoothly and kickstarts your energy for the day. ^[11]

Method 3 of 4: Boosting Your Physical Energy

1

Move around. If you are sitting down and working, try to stand up every 5-10 minutes. Do a few jumping jacks or a dance to your favorite song if you need a burst of energy to jump-start your productivity. Going for a short walk down the hall (or, better yet, outside) also helps. ^[12]

2

Go to the gym. If you consistently feel sleepy in the middle of the day or just after lunch, try getting in a midday workout. Exercise, though it expends energy, also boosts energy.^[13]

• Hit the gym during your lunch hour.
• Go for a brisk walk outside if you can’t go to the gym.
• Find an office workout routine if you cannot leave work to exercise. This may include pushups, chair sits, lunges, and sit-ups. Just remember to close the blinds to your office window!

3

Do yoga or other stretching. Yoga, while calming, is also rejuvenating. Doing a few yoga poses that promote energy when you feel tired can give your body an energy boost. Here are a few poses to try: ^[14]

• Camel pose: while on your knees, arch your back so that your heart and your chest are open forward. With your feet flexed and your toes grounded, reach back and hold your ankles with your hands, and let your head fall back to stretch your neck.
• Warrior 2: do a deep lunge, with the forward knee straight above the ankle and the foot facing the wall in front of you. The back leg should be extended with the leg straight and the foot sideways, perpendicular to the forward foot. Extend both arms out in the directions of your legs and look forward, over your extended arm and forward foot. Be sure to alternate sides.
• Chair pose: stand with your feet flat on the floor, shoulder-width apart. Then sink down into a squat, as though you were going to sit in a chair. Be sure to keep your back completely flat. Raise both arms up over your head, shoulder-width apart, palms facing each other but not touching and fingers spread. Hold for several seconds, then stand up. Rest and repeat several times.

4

Take a power nap. Ward off extreme fatigue by taking a short nap. Evaluate whether this option is appropriate for you based on where you are. This is obviously not an option if you are driving, and it may not be an option if you are at work.^[15]

• Try to sleep for at least 20 minutes.
• Try other methods of staying awake to rouse yourself fully after you wake from your nap so you don’t feel even more sleepy.

5

Take a shower. Taking a shower is sometimes even better than taking a nap. It can refresh you and make you feel like you are ready for more work. ^[16]

• A cold shower may be necessary if you are extremely tired. ^[17]
• The temperature changes from taking a warm shower then stepping out into cool air can also help you wake up.

Method 4 of 4: Stimulating Your Mental Energy

1

Write down notes. If you find yourself feeling tired in a meeting—particularly one that is boring—try taking notes about what people are saying. The active participation of              taking notes will help keep you mentally engaged with the ideas, which will keep you            more alert.

• You will remember the information more clearly.
• It will look like you are paying careful attention.
• You may find it helpful to look back at your notes later if your mind was wandering during the meeting.

2

Laugh at something comedic. Laughter is the best medicine for many reasons, and staying awake is one of them. Watching a funny video clip or listening to a humorous story and laughing out loud at it will help you be more alert. ^[18]

• You can stimulate your thinking by engaging in something funny that interests you.
• Laughing will offer a break and release from other things you’re doing that may be tedious or unpleasant.

3

Socialize with someone. If you have been working by yourself, engaging in a conversation with another person can help wake up your mind. Engaging in conversation and an exchange of ideas will get your mind working. If you can walk over to the other person, you will get a physical boost as well.

• Talking fast may also help you feel more energetic. Try upping the tempo of your speech while chatting with someone. ^[19]

4

Find a happy place. Feeling happy makes people feel more energetic, so making yourself feel happy if you’re stressed or down will give your day a boost.^[20]

• Keep your favorite photos of loved ones or pets nearby at work to give yourself a happy reminder.
• Take a mental vacation to your favorite getaway, remembering or imagining the details of what it likes to be there.

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Wedding Shoe Trends We Love

If you’re deciding to go beyond the traditional white, ivory, silver, gold, or cream shoe, these are just a few of the shoe trends we LOVE! And if you’re looking for even more ideas, check out our attire photo gallery full of awesome shoes!

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How to Layer Lotion and Perfume Without Overdoing It

We’ve definitely reached for the fragrance-free body cream in fear of messing up our signature scent--or you know, becoming the girl known for overdosing on eau de toilette. But it turns out that when you know what you’re doing, layering scented body lotion and perfume is actually a genius move. To learn the dos and don’ts of how to layer lotion and perfume, we went to fragrance experts and picked up a few interesting tips along the way.

It won’t just intensify it.

At first, we thought putting on scented lotion and perfume would be a train-wreck waiting to happen. No one wants to walk into a room and overwhelm her colleagues with a cloud of hydrangea. Steven Claisse, Senior Perfumer at Takasago and perfumer of various CLEAN Fragrances, explains that layering these two fragrance-filled objects won’t intensify the smell, but complement different notes. In fact, Claisse says that lotion under perfume is a good way to introduce layering in general. Good to know when you receive those gift sets around the holidays

It makes it last.

If you feel like fragrance always evaporates into thin air the second you put it on your skin, layering is going to be a godsend. Chris Wyatt, Executive Director of Global Education at Jo Malone, tells us that it will help you keep your scent stick around longer, which we definitely appreciate. “Fragrance layering is the best way to make your scent last longer using,” he says. “For example, if Pomegranate Noir ($124, jomalone.com) is your scent of choice, you can add Pomegranate Noir Bath Oil to your morning bath.”

Apply Your Lotion First

Do you apply your moisturizer after your shower? Good—that’s exactly the way you should be doing it. “I recommend putting the lotion on first then shortly after misting on the fragrance,” explains Claisse. “You will have a great fragrance base with just the lotion and a complimentary mist of scent to enhance the fragrance experience.”

Know What Compliments Each Other

When it comes to the layering process, you have to pick scents that work well together. Claisse says to try slathering on a floral body lotion and spritzing on a musky scent, like CLEAN White Woods ($38, sephora.com) to make it a bit deeper, richer and sexier. In general, you should always layer a light scent with one that’s stronger. Here’s a quick cheat sheet of the fragrance types that work best together:

Musk and Floral

Oriental and Fruity

Oriental and Gourmand

Citrus and Woody

Fruity and Floral

Floral and Oriental

If you’re interested in learning more about layering lotion and fragrance, Jo Malone even offers a feature on their website that walks you through what products go well together, based on if you want your scent to smell fresher or warmer. In fact, Wyatt tells us that their fragrances are specifically made so that clashing isn’t really a concern. “The Jo Malone London signature is fragrances that are simple yet sophisticated in their composition, he says. “There is clarity in the way they are created, allowing them to stay true to their ingredients, and the result is that all combine well with another.”

Know What Not to Layer

You’ll want to keep green florals and and oriental fragrances separate, explains Steven. “These tend to clash,” he says. “They are overly juxtaposed and will likely produce a scent that is very discorded.” And while we like interesting scents, discordant fragrance is never one of our perfume goals.

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5 Brilliant Ways to Avoid Hat Hair

Fall means it’s officially time for some of our favorite things: hot chocolate, fuzzy sweaters, matte lipstick and hats galore. But for every good, there’s a corresponding bad—and hat hair is definitely the worst of the bunch. The good news is that you don’t have to suffer through a cycle of never-ending bad hair days as soon as the temperature dips if we have anything to say about it. Here are five genius ways to avoid hat hair this fall.

1. Make sure your have your hat game right

Whether you’re into beanies, fedoras or deerstalkers, you need to make sure your hat fits correctly if you want any hope of a good hair day. Too tight, you’ll end up with an unfortunate hair dent circumnavigating your head—too loose, it will rub around on your head and encourage frizz. Close-fitting hats like beanies and toques should fit snugly on your head so that they don’t slide down, but still heave enough room to slide at two fingers underneath without stretching it out. Stiffer hats like the classic cloche should be able to sit pushed to the back of your head (where your nog is widest) and still have enough room for one finger to slide underneath the band.

2. The ultimate no-no.

We know you’re not exactly dying to go outside in the cold with a wet head, but on those days when every minute counts and you find yourself wondering if you really have the time to blow-dry your hair, do it. Wet hair underneath a hat is a recipe for unfortunate angles, cowlicks and dents—so make sure that your lovely locks are totally dry before heading out into the frozen wilderness, hat in hand!

3. Style bangs properly for maximum cuteness.

Hats and bangs are a match made in hair heaven, but style them incorrectly and you can end up with the worst case of hat hair you’ve ever seen. Sweep your bangs loosely over to one side and keep them in place with some dry shampoo, rather than hairspray—this will help fight frizz and static, and won’t dry out your lovely locks any further than the winter air already has.

4. Avoid product overload!

If you’re the type who layers nine kinds of gels, mousses and serums on your hair every morning, you might want to take a powder on that—the more products you use in your hair every day, the more likely you are to end up with that unfortunately smooshed, squished look. Limit yourself to one or two products on those mornings when you’re going to be wearing a hat and thank us later.

Embrace hat-friendly hairstyles.5

Sometimes it feels like a low pony is the only way to style your hair when you’re rocking a chapeau—but there are a multitude of hat-friendly hairstyles out there. Try a loose side-braid, a sleek bun at the nape of your neck, a pinned-up faux bob, loose curls or even a low-slung half-up style instead!

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I Tested Long-Lasting Makeup at SoulCycle So You Won't Have To

Image Source: girl-en Photography / Grace Hitchcock

Let me start things off by making one thing clear: I am not a fitness enthusiast. I'm a strong believer in running only when someone is chasing me, eating pretzels as opposed to twisting my body into one, and sitting on the sidelines rather than sweating it out on the field. That being said, I can occasionally — very,veryoccasionally — be convinced to participate in physically demanding activity if it's actually fun. Luckily for me, SoulCycle is one of those workouts.

My very first class was with a group of co-workers, and despite my initial "Oh god, why are you making me do this?" attitude, I loved it. After we finished our ride, I packed up my things and headed back to the office to finish up some projects, blissfully unaware of what had happened to my makeup while I "tapped it back." How I made it to the office without passerby crying and shielding their children's eyes as I passed, I'll never know. Because when I finally peeked at the mirror, I looked like a hybrid between the matchmaker from Mulan and those guys whoopened the lost ark in Indiana Jones.

After washing off the sad remains of my formerly fierce-as-hell winged liner and giving up on a head of limp, stringy hair that would make Severus Snape jealous, I got to thinking: what sort of beauty products could actually last through intense physical activity? By no means do I recommend wearing a full face of makeup to your Sunday morning pilates class, but there must be other people who fit workouts into their lunch break. Are they stuck reapplying melted makeup and redoing their hair after every single class?! How exhausting! We all can't look like Taylor Swift leaving the gym.

The SoulCycle Experiment

Image Source: girl-en Photography / Grace Hitchcock

Inspired by these questions, what became lovingly known as "the SoulCycle Experiment" was born. My goals: (1) uncover which longwear makeup products would stay on during a demanding exercise class; and (2) which dry shampoos could revive damp, listless locks after the deed.

So, I created five individual looks featuring products advertised as "long-lasting," then booked five SoulCycle classes to test them at. Disclaimer: I am not a makeup artist, so these were truly DIY styles. I also rounded up five dry shampoos to use after each spinning session. To give each pairing of makeup products and dry shampoos an equal chance to compete, I stuck to the same routine

putting on my makeup at the same time each day        
scheduling each class for the same weekday time slot (4:30pm)       
washing and styling my hair the exact same way before every class        
drinking from the same water bottle and using the same type of towel during class        
giving myself the same 15 minutes of "cool down" time before taking after-class photos        

The results I found were surprising — in a good way. See so for yourself  ...

Image Source: girl-en Photography / Grace Hitchcock

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Cherry Bombré Is the Ultimate Low-Maintenance Rainbow Hair Trend

If you're a brunette, taking the plunge into rainbow hair is a much bigger commitment. For the most part, you can't just spice up your strands with a quick salon visit. Nope, instead you have to bleach your precious mane before any vibrant color will show up. Oil slick hair is probably the best way to dabble in the more technicolor trends, but according to Good Housekeeping, cherry bombré is the new low-maintenance look that brunettes will love.

Colorist Beth Minardi, who coined the term, suggests asking your stylist to add "rich, cool reds" throughout your mane. "This shade works well on olive or porcelain skin tones, but red tones can be played up or down to suit any complexion," Minardi tells Good Housekeeping. "This style is best for natural brunettes with long layers or no layers, as it requires minimal dyeing processes to achieve." Even better, ombré color is designed to look like it's naturally fading, so if you're lazy about making salon appointments, your cherry bombré hair will still look good. We're loving this color trend and pumpkin spice strands for Fall!

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9 Soothing Face Masks to Help Kill Your Holiday Hangover

These energizing, de-puffing and hydrating face masks work better than any hair of the dog

So, you went a little crazy last night. You said "yes" to a few too many rounds of flaming shots, performed a few too many whips and far too many nae naes, and now you've found yourself with a splitting migraine and zombie-like complexion. We've all been there. 

Hangovers are no small inconvenience, and according to Lori Kenyon Farley, certified nutritional consultant and co-founder of Project Juice, they can have some pretty gnarly effects on your skin health. Hangovers mean fatigue, dehydration and the proclivity to binge on greasy foods, all of which can cause your skin to look dull, bloated and greasy. 

Of course, one of the best things you can do for your hangover is to chug water and replenish your electrolytes. But if you want to infuse your skin with vitamins, antioxidants and other goodies from the outside in, try one of these luxe face masks. These sheet, clay and gel masks are specifically formulated to de-bloat, de-puff, rehydrate and treat other icky side effects of going too hard the night before. Here, nine hangover masks to help you bounce back, the beauty junkie way. 

Best Hangover Mask For Restoring Dewiness

What it is: Leaders Daily Wonders What Happened Last Night Revitalizing Mask, $4

What it does: Restores the healthy dewiness that drained from your skin last night like Miller Lite from a beer funnel. 

How it works: Apply this one-use-only sheet mask to clean skin, leave on for 15-20 minutes, and the ginseng and Artemesia extract-packed formula will get to work revitalizing your dull complexion. The mask is packed with an entire bottle of serum for a serious dose of hydration (think: an IV for your face). After use, pat the leftover product into your skin, chase with a large tumbler of cucumber water and marvel at your refreshed complexion. 

Best Hangover Mask For Soothing Irritation

What it is: Belif First Aid Anti-Hangover Soothing Mask, $34

What it does: Soothes sensitive, stressed skin after a night of belting Trap Queen at the top of your lungs and trying not to face plant in your stilettos. 

How it works: Gently apply a layer of this refreshing gel mask to cleaned, toned skin. (Chill the mask in the fridge for five minutes beforehand for extra cooling sensation.) Chamomile extract and Xylitol calm skin, while reducing any swelling or irritation. Leave on for 10 to 20 minutes, and after rinsing, behold as the the redness recedes from your complexion.

Best Hangover Mask for Extracting Toxins 

What it is: Rodial Super Acids X-Treme Hangover Mask, $56

What it does: Cleanses and resurfaces your fatigued, toxin-laden complexion. (Because eve though that fifth cocktail didn't feel toxic at the time, it sure does now.) 

How it works: Apply a thin layer of this clay mask to clean, dry skin. Exfoliating ingredients work to lift dead skin cells and draw out impurities (aka, the vodka taking up residence in your pores), while anti-aging properties help firm and even out skin tone. After five minutes, rub off most of the product with your fingers, then rinse away residue with lukewarm water. Your complexion will appear astonishingly retexturized, cleansed and glowy.

Best Hangover Mask for Reviving Tired Eyes

What it is: Revelations RX Tired Eyes, Puffiness & Dark Circles Eye Mask, $14

What is does: Reduces the dark circles, puffiness and fine lines around your delicate eye area, worsened by an angry liver and less than half a night's sleep. 

How it works: Place these extra-large under-eye masks beneath each eye, making sure to fit them comfortably to your face shape. Within 20 minutes, their key ingredients of hydrating hyaluronic acid, vitamin A, caffeine and protective hesperidin work to hydrate and refresh your drowsy peepers. Reduced fine lines and puffiness will push the restart button on your lethargic morning. 

Best Hangover Mask for Delivering Nutrients

What it is: Farmacy Soothing Coconut Gel Mask, $24

What is does: Rebalances skin's moisture and tone with a veritable green juice for the face.

How it works: This calming sheet mask blends amino-acid-rich kale extracts with vitamin A, coconut gel and a breed of collagen-supporting acid to give skin the nutrients and hydration those seven Jell-O shots viciously stole from it. Leave the mask on for 20-25 minutes (for maximum results, drink an actual green while you wait), then massage the leftover formula into your skin. Afterwards, your skin will feel soothed, soft and nourished.

Best Hangover Mask for Boosting Brightness

What it is: Orlane Absolute Skin Recovery Anti-Fatigue Masque, $90

What is does: Reverses skin fatigue (you know, that thing that happens when you conk out at 2 a.m. on a stranger's hardwood floor?), resulting in a more radiant, toned complexion. 

How it works: Apply a thick layer of this gooey substance to your skin, and leave for 10 minutes. A surprising tingling sensation ensues, physically waking up the skin. (It subsides after about a minute). For the remaining time, a mixture of ginkgo, ginseng and hyaluronic acid give the skin a hydrating pick-me-up. After rinsing, your skin will look noticeably brighter. You can also leave a light layer of the product under makeup for extra radiance (which, tbh, you probably need).

Best Hangover Mask for Reducing Face Bloat

What it is: Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Wrap, $55

What is does: Nixes the bloated "puffy face" look that comes with guzzling 64 ounces of pumpkin ale over the course of two hours. 

How it works: Slather a thick layer of this creamy mousse onto dry skin, let sit for 10 minutes and rinse. Chinese barley and gingko biloba relieve the fluid retention caused by booze and stress, resulting in a healthier, tighter complexion.

Best Hangover Mask for a Spa-Like Experience 

What it is: Sephora Collection Instant Depuffing Eye Mask, $6

What is does: Energizes and hydrates the under-eye area so you look as well-rested as you'd look if you hadn't spent all night ordering rounds of Fireball for the table. 

How it works: Close your eyes, and rest the mask over your lids for 10-15 minutes, as if you were getting a facial. (Better yet, sneak in a power nap as you wait for the mask to kick in.) Protective plant extracts help the skin retain moisture, allowing your complexion to look more awake and glowy. 

Best Hangover Mask for a Physical Wake Up Call

What it is: Radical Skincare Instant Revitalizing Mask, $65

What is does: Nourishes energy-depleted skin with vitamins, antioxidants and a texture more sparkling than the unholy Korbel that got you here. 

How it works: Smooth this foamy mask onto skin, and behold as it bubbles and pops for three to five minutes. Revitalizing ingredients like sodium PCA, vitamin E and green coffee balance moisture levels, deliver antioxidants and protect skin against free radical damage

Best Hangove

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