How I Stayed Awake While Driving After Running 11 miles In The Desert
Medium Article
You don’t realize how hard it is to drive when you’re tired UNTILL you’re at the wheel after a midnight 11 mile run through the desert, driving 4 hours back home. If you know you know 😉
The things I did to stay awake were almost out of a movie. Or they felt that way at least. Or maybe i was dreaming… 🤔 Either way, here’s what I did and my review / rating on each of them for your future reference. Just so we’re clear, “🐑🐑🐑🐑 🐑” is the best.
🫧Chewing gum:
Not bad. It kept my mouth moving and doing something. For whatever reason it seemed to help to chew loud and with an open mouth. I was the only one in the car so it was alright. Also chewing the gum kept me from not having to drink a bunch of liquids and have to pee. Another bonus.
Rating — 🐑🐑🐑🐑
💺Shifting around my seating:
In my delirium, I though that if I. over positions often, I’d stay awake but the change. I leaned forward, I leaned back, I leaned left and of course I leaned right. I EVEN leaned diagonally. Did it work, meh. Maybe to save my back a bit.
Rating — 🐑
🔫Using a massage gun:
Ok don’t knock this one until you try it. I have a Hypervolt massage gun that is FANTASTIC. I grabbed it out of my bag and was able to use it on my legs and arms while driving. The vibrations were both soothing my muscles but also in a weird way, keeping me awake. If it wasn’t so awkward, it’d rate a little better.
Rating — 🐑🐑🐑
🔠Doing Wordle:
Maybeeee not the best idea, but it was to keep my mind working. The hardest part was to remember the board at a quick glance so that I didn’t use my phone. Going through the combos in my head made it way more difficult than just looking at the screen (safety first okay).
Either way, I gave up on that one quick. BUT it did keep me thinking. Which helped!
Rating — 🐑🐑
📚Listening to an audiobook:
This both helped AND didn’t at the same time. I’ll explain. The audiobook I was listening to was great! I was into it! By the narrators voice was just a little too soothing. So by all means, try the audiobook hack, but make sure you’re not going to be talked to sleep.💤
Rating — 🐑🐑🐑
📱Talking on the phone:
Hands free of course!
This was next level. Big help! My dads in a different time zone and was awake while i was driving. I called and chatted with him my last 50min. And it was a life saver. Literally. It woke me up, kept me engaged and got me home! THOS is the hack.
Rating — 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑.
So there you have it! If YOU ever find yourself in a long early morning drive and you too need to stay awake behind the wheel, try these 👆
PS — I’m writing this at home, so something worked. Safe travels!