1. Get Your Zzzz's
There's nothing like getting 8 hours of restful sleep to ensure an energetic day and night. If you're working at night or hitting the midnight oil to study, hit the sack earlier the day before or take catnaps during the day. If you're sleeping during the day, pull the window shades tightly or get special black-out screens to block sunlight and give the illusion of night. They're slightly more expensive than regular window blinds, but they'll keep your room dark and cool during the day when you're napping.
2. Eschew the Candy Bar
When you're fading at night and need to keep your energy up, snack on healthy foods like apples, peanuts, walnuts or sunflower seeds. Don't weigh yourself down with large meals. Eat several small meals during the course of the day and this will increase your metabolism at night. Eat well-balanced meals of fish, poultry, whole grains and veggies, and occasionally red meat. Avoid fried and fast foods; they'll only sap your energy later.
3. Stay Red Hot to Stay Awake
Always take a multivitamin every day and make sure you get enough B vitamins and iron from your diet. Take additional B12 or B6 supplements if you're an erratic or picky eater. Boost energy at night by eating spicy foods, especially those containing cayenne pepper. A spice called capsaicin, which exists in many hot peppers, peps you up without the nasty letdown of caffeine. Of course, you can drink coffee to help you stay up, but the jitters you experience afterwards aren't worth it. Try green tea instead. You get a cleaner, longer-lasting buzz.
4. Shake Your Booty
Move around if your all-nighter involves sitting at a desk or computer; stretch or take a walk around the office. Sitting for long periods of time makes you lethargic and slows the flow of blood to the brain and other vital organs. Get up and move your body for added energy. Make exercise part of your daily routine day or night, including energy sustaining activities like yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi. These exercises calm the nervous system and give you more consistent energy throughout the day and into the night. Your body and brain will still be sharp as the sun sets if you maintain them with yoga and other systemic exercises.
5. OK, You Can Cheat a Little
Energy drinks will lend you needed pep and some of them, like Red Bull, do contain B vitamins. Play loud music or turn on a heated talk show to keep your brain engaged. Plus, you can always invite a talkative friend over to keep you company. If all else fails, get a cat. He'll keep you awake at night for sure.
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