Donald Trump has been accused of nodding off during his court trial against Stormy Daniels by reporters in the room, who reportedly saw him sitting with his eyes closed for multiple minutes.
The politician denied snoozing, saying he was simply closing his “beautiful blue eyes” in a statement on Truth Social, but his head was reportedly drooping down and mouth hanging open, as per the New York Times. We spoke to a sleep expert who revealed some top tips to avoid falling asleep in important meetings and lectures – or courtrooms.
Expert’s top tips to stay awake
Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib told The Focus there are four important steps to help you stay awake and remain focused.
1. Posture
First, your posture is very important for “keeping your mind alert”. Sitting in a bad position will make you feel sleepy, while good posture will keep you awake.
“Ensure you are sitting upright and not slouching, or resting on a desk,” the sleep expert said.
2. Muscles
“When we are sitting for long periods, blood tends to pool in our lower body, which may reduce oxygen to the brain, and may cause sleepiness,” she added.
To avoid this, you should rhythmically tense and relax your calf muscles to help move blood back to your brain and keep you awake.
3. Water
It’s also a great idea to always have a water bottle with you in meetings and lectures, as drinking ice-cold water is another way to remain focused.
It keeps your core cool, Rohrscheib explained, which helps you stay awake. Often, we feel more sleepy when the meeting room is hot.
4. Walking
Finally, when you have a break, you should go for a short power walk inside or outdoors to increase your heart rate as being sedentary for too long can make you feel tired.
The sleep expert added that a power walk will also raise your cortisol levels, the body’s stress hormone. Too much or too little can both cause fatigue.
On top of that, MedlinePlus recommends making a few lifestyle changes to stop feeling tired, including getting regular physical activity and improving your sleep habits. It’s important to stop drinking coffee at the right time too.
You should also quit smoking, manage your stress, eat a healthy diet and avoid alcohol. In some cases, fatigue could be caused by a more serious health condition. If you are concerned, speak to a healthcare professional.
Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib is a neuroscientist who specialises in sleep and has more than 10 years of experience in the field. She has a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science and a PhD in Neuroscience, with a specialty in sleep genetics.
