[LSU_Fan_Tiff]

I'm not a big fan of coffee or cokes, however I like tea. The only thing I'm concerned about with tea is getting too much caffeine.<br><br>
I'm looking for ideas for something to boost me on nights when I'm working and hit the three/four am hour and just can't keep my eyes from closing. As much as I'd sometimes like to crawl into the warm isolette with my itty bitty patient and take a nap, it would be a little crowded and I'm sure that would give new meaning to keeping a close eye on the little peanuts and not be acceptable! (Not to mention they don't really make isolettes big enough for me! Darn!)

 

[merigayle]

I am confused-- are you concerned with getting too much caffienne or too little with tea?

 

[LSU_Fan_Tiff]

Too much caffeine. I find two problems with the tea- as much as I like it.<br><br>
1) if I drink tea at 3/4 am it keeps me awake way longer than I need to be and I can't fall asleep when I get home from work. Which causes me to miss sleep and so goes the cycle onto the next shift of being tired.<br><br>
I only really get sleepy the first night on after being off a couple of days because it's hard to sleep enough the day of that shift.<br><br>
2) When I'm not working and drinking tea I tend to get more headaches and I think it's related to caffeine. I just don't want my body to be that dependant on the caffeine.

 

[merigayle]

What kind of tea are you drinking? green tea has a small bit of caffiene in it.<br><br>
If you get off caffiene, just wait out the headaches and they should go away after a little while. In stead of caffiene, how about some juice or an energizing herbal tea? i always like to do some jumping jacks to get the blood flowing <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[LSU_Fan_Tiff]

Thanks for the info. I really drink all kinds of teas and now that you mention it some do tend to have more caffeine in them. I'll have to pay more attention in that respect.<br><br>
I'm trying to imagine me doing jumping jacks in front of my patients! *Smiles* Not that they'd really care either way! I do hit the stairs as often as possible and there is a group of us talking about a late break walk around the hospital (inside of course since we work at night- there are some back halls we can take)<br><br>
I went to visit the nurses I use to work with last night and one of them gave me a good suggestion. She said on the nights she knows she'll hit bottom at 3am she'll drink some sort of caffeine between 9p and midnight, gets her through the night but doesn't keep her awake in the morning when she needs to get sleep for the next shift.

 

[merigayle]

I don't do jumping jacks infront of the patients! lol. That would be funny, but i am sure they all think i am a little left of center to begin with <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br>
There are some essential oils that are energizing and i fid lighting some citrus smelling candles helps as well.

 

[altoids]

Eating peppermint altoids has helped me stay awake through many long lectures and meetings.

 

[drgenie]

Rosemary or bergamot essential oils are good for energizing.

 

[LSU_Fan_Tiff]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I picked up some green teas today. Individual instant packs- cherry blossom and mango flavored- to try.<br><br>
I'll have to look into the essential oils. Great ideas. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"> Thanks again!

 

[Hippo]

Yerba Mate has a lot of caffeine, but produces quite different effects from the caffeine in coffee or colas. It might be worth a try.<br><br>
But be warned, from the flavor, I've concluded that Yerba Mate is spanish for "wet grass." <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[merigayle]

i love yerba mate, it does NOT taste like wet grass! lol. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[drgenie]

Does it taste anything like coffee?? I have been wanting to try it.

 

[merigayle]

yerba mate? it is tea. Does not taste anything like coffee. It is very good. I get just the plain, they have several different ones at Kimberton.

 

[luckylily]

anything with a higher sugar content should give you a boost of energy--maybe try some apple juice?<br><br>
I'm tired all the time now, but have to limit caffeine intake due to my pregnancy, and I find that a little bit of juice works wonders for my energy level. (although I typically have to follow that up within about 1/2 hour with a snack with some kind of protein, or I have a blood sugar crash)