Tips for staying awake at work

Advice Request

TL;DR I’m a teacher and can’t be falling asleep every day at work. How do you stay awake?

— I’m getting tested for narcolepsy in a few weeks with an MSLT test.

Honestly I don’t know if I’m narcoleptic. I think this is maybe an issue with another medication I’m on. I cannot change that medication or the dose. I’ve been on it for years and only recently has this become an issue.

Several years ago I got tested for OSA and was diagnosed. Felt great improvement with the CPAP. In the last year, I can have an entire week on the CPAP 7-8 hrs a night and still be falling asleep at work.

I don’t sit in a desk all day. I move. I eat. I talk. I walk. I drink coffee. I take Nuvigil.

I’m still falling asleep. I need tips. What do you do to stay awake? I have 25+ kids in front of me and things to do on my planning period— I can’t always sleep when an attack hits.

Posted Dec 4, 2025, 2:40 AM UTC

12
Loading comments…