Tip of the week: How to work late into the night
Fuel up early; Snack wisely; Stir the pot
Fuel up early. Nothing beats a quick nap for clearing your brain of a chemical that inhibits quick thinking and builds up the longer you’re awake. But if the adenosine is the problem, caffeine can be a work-around. Drink a tall coffee in the afternoon; the caffeine will fool your brain into acting as if its adenosine levels are low, giving you several extra hours of relative nimble-mindedness.
Snack wisely. Sugar provides only a temporary boost to brain activity, so skip the candy bar and reach instead for a handful of almonds or walnuts. “Their balance of carbs, protein, and fat delivers a prolonged energy boost.”
Stir the pot. Break from your work occasionally to stimulate your brain with a brief and engaging off-task activity. Play a quick trivia game, for instance, or make a 10-minute call to another night owl.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Source: Men’s Health
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Taking aim at Venezuela’s autocrat
Feature The Trump administration is ramping up military pressure on Nicolás Maduro. Is he a threat to the U.S.?
-
Comey indictment: Is the justice system broken?
Feature U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan has indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of lying and obstructing Congress
-
Government shuts down amid partisan deadlock
Feature As Democrats and Republicans clash over health care and spending, the shutdown leaves 750,000 federal workers in limbo