As tempting as it sounds, the answer isn’t louder music, colder air or talking to someone. “The only cure for sleepiness is sleep,” Milling said.
Take a short nap
While napping in public may feel uncomfortable, it’s crucial. You can take a nap at a rest area, gas station or other place you feel safe. And hey, only a short nap is needed.
“Ideally, you should take a 20 to 30 minute nap to feel refreshed, but not so long that you enter a deep sleep cycle and wake up feeling groggy,” Miller said. “If you’re unable to nap, simply resting your eyes or having a break from driving for a few minutes can also be helpful.”
Add some caffeine to the mix
While caffeine can help, Miller continued, it’s a short-term fix and it can’t cure severe fatigue. She recommends drinking about 200mg of caffeine (equivalent to a cup of coffee) 30 minutes before getting back on the road.
Having a coffee between napping and driving also adds time between waking up and driving, which Kahn said is important. He encourages having that buffer time “to ensure the post-nap grogginess doesn’t affect your driving skills (even if you’ve only napped for less than 20 minutes).”
Combining the two can eliminate mid-afternoon sleepiness for up to an hour, according to a study in the journal Psychophysiology. But again, these experts say a nap comes first and foremost. “Whether you include caffeine or not, though, the most important ingredient is the nap,” Milling emphasized. “Never skip sleep in favor of a double espresso.”
Exercise
Lastly, while it may seem counterintuitive, some movement (along with the nap) can help. “A short burst of exercise can wake you up and increase your alertness,” Miller said. She encouraged light stretching or a short walk. You could even get some errands done during this time, like walking around the grocery store.
Consider other options that will get you home safely
If these options feel undoable or aren’t cutting it, don’t let that deter you. “Call someone to drive you home or the rest of the way,” Eichelberger urged. “You can also find a motel [and] rest for the night, or get a cab and head home.” While a Lyft ride or motel stay won’t be inexpensive, it is cheaper — and safer — than the alternative.
Long-term, Eichelberger recommended maintaining good sleep habits. If you notice excessive fatigue often, she added, consider talking to a sleep doctor so you can avoid car accidents (and various other problems).
Being proactive is always smart, too. Milling mentioned not driving if you’ve been awake for 18+ hours and scheduling breaks every couple of hours, to start. This way, you’re less likely to get caught in a drowsy driving situation.
While vacations and life can keep us busy, sacrificing sleep isn’t a great idea — especially if you’re ever behind the wheel.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
