| How to Stay Awake Until Midnight on New Year's Eve Posted: 30 Dec 2020 04:00 PM PST If you're used to going to bed early, it can be tough to stay awake until midnight on New Year's Day. No one wants to fall asleep too early to see the ball drop. This year, keep your eyes open long enough to countdown to the New Year! [Edit]Staying Active - Talk to people. If you're around friends or family for New Year's, make conversation with them to stay awake. Keep your mind entertained by being social.
- Listen to their stories.
- Laugh at their jokes.
- Talk to them about their interests.
- Stay on your feet. Dance, walk around the house or even challenge your friends to a push up contest. Whatever you do, just make sure not to sit or lay down. You don't want to get too comfortable or you might end up drifting off to sleep.
- Do fun things. Play games with your friends and family. Play pranks on people. Take turns making New Year's resolutions with everyone. Do anything that entertains your mind and keeps you up.[1]
- If it's legal in your city, shooting off fireworks can be really exciting. Just be very careful around fire and supervise little kids.
- Taking pictures of everyone in funny poses can make for a really great time.
- Help out. If you're at a party, you can help the cook prepare food for everyone. You can even play bartender and make cocktails for everyone. Volunteer to clean up a bit as well. Not only will helping out ingratiate you with the host, it will keep your mind focused and awake.
[Edit]Fighting the Sleepiness - Use caffeine. Caffeine blocks sleep inducing neurotransmitters in your brain to keep you awake.[2] When you start to feel yourself getting sleepy, drink a cup of coffee or something else with caffeine. Avoid caffeine in the days leading up to New Year's Eve as it becomes less effective with overuse.
- Most sodas have caffeine.
- Energy drinks like Redbull and Monster have a lot of caffeine.
- Some dark chocolates contain caffeine.
- Keep in mind that while this is a very effective method, it's not healthy. Don't drink caffeine at night often, as disrupting your sleep cycle can be bad for your health.
- Change your body temperature. Vary your body temperature from hot to cold to jolt yourself into alertness. The shock will give your body and mind an instant burst of energy.
- Splash some cold water on your face.[3]
- Take a quick shower. Switch the water from cold to hot and then back again to wake your body up and improve your circulation.
- You can get a similar effect by chewing ice or drinking a cold beverage.
- Flip on the light switch. It will be harder for you to fall asleep with all the lights on. Make your environment is as bright as possible.
- You may want to move to a different room and turn the lights on there to avoid bothering other people.
- Listen to music. Put on your favorite upbeat tune and let it energize your spirit. Turn up the volume as loud as you can.[4]
- Use headphones if there's other people around.
- Avoid slow songs that could relax you to sleep.
- Get some fresh air. If you're with a lot of people on New Year's Eve, the atmosphere may be very crowded. This can make the air very hot and humid which can make you very sleepy.[5] Go outside to get some fresh oxygen to rejuvenate yourself.
- Enjoy a film. Watch a really fun film to engage your senses. A good action film will wipe away your sleepiness and keep you on the edge of your seat.
- Avoid films that are too long or slow. Keeping up with a long, complicated plot can leave you feeling drained.
- Use peppermint oil. The smell of peppermint can wake up your senses. Rub some oil on your hands, temples and upper lip. The smell may be very strong, so you might have to keep your distance from people for a while.[6]
- Strong citrus scents can also do the trick.
- Don't use lavender, it can be too relaxing.
[Edit]Preparing to Stay Awake - Eat nutritious foods throughout the day. Eat vitamin rich foods that will give you energy. You'll need plenty of Vitamin C and B and omega-3 fatty acids to give yourself the energy to stay awake. Avoid foods with tryptophan like turkey that can make you feel tired and sluggish.[7]
- Salmon and walnuts are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and will boost your metabolism.
- Oranges and other citrus fruits are a great source of Vitamin C.
- Eggs and beans are very B vitamin rich.
- Eat small meals often to keep your metabolism running. Larger meals can make you sluggish.
- Get a full eight hours of sleep the night before. Make sure your body has enough sleep to operate. It will be really hard to have enough energy to stay awake on New Year's Eve if you're sleep deprived from the night before.
- Don't over do it. Sleeping too much can make you feel groggy.
- Take a walk. Low-impact exercise can give you extra energy. Take a thirty minute walk on New Year's Eve to get your blood pumping and help you stay awake.[8] The sunlight you get from outside will also help your body absorb Vitamin D.
- Keep it light. Heavy exercise can burn you out and make you feel tired.
- Take a nap. If you're worried you still won't be able to make it to midnight, take a nap in the middle of the day. Set an alarm to make sure you don't oversleep. A short nap of forty-five minutes or less will leave you feeling energized. If you go longer, it could make you more tired.
- If you have time, a ninety minute nap will allow your body to get through a rem sleep cycle which can make up for some sleep you'll be losing on New Year's.
- Always keep your mind occupied to stay awake.
- Ask a friend to wake you up in advance just in case you do fall asleep.
- Chew gum or put a mint in your mouth to engage your senses and wake your body up.
- Get up and move around. Try not to sit or lay down because you might get too comfortable and accidentally fall asleep.
[Edit]Warnings - Don't start drinking caffeine too early, or your energy level will crash.
- Try not to eat turkey, there is a chemical which will make you drowsy.
- Don't drink too much alcohol. It will make you extremely drowsy.
[Edit]References |
| How to Store Ice Without a Freezer Posted: 30 Dec 2020 08:00 AM PST Drinks are in the fridge, burgers are on the BBQ, and your party's about to start—but the ice doesn't fit in the freezer! This might feel like a disaster, but you don't have to go without ice-cold drinks or food. You can try a few different ways to keep your ice from melting so you can enjoy your time with friends and family. [Edit]Store your ice in the fridge if you're in a pinch.[1] - If you don't have a cooler, a bucket, or a freezer, a fridge can work. Wrap your ice in aluminum foil to trap in the cold, then keep the ice in the fridge.
- The fridge is too warm to keep your ice frozen for long, but it can work for a few hours until you find a cooler or a bucket.
- If you bought ice in a package from the store, don't unwrap it! Leave it in the package so it stays colder longer.
[Edit]Put your ice in a plastic cooler or bucket.[2] - This is the perfect solution if you're on the go. Grab a cooler or a bucket from your local grocery store, then dump your ice in to keep it cold.
- Most coolers are lined with insulating material so your ice will stay chilly for hours on end.
- A bucket can work in a pinch, but it's not as good as a cooler.
- Depending on the size and material of your cooler, your ice could stay frozen for up to 8 hours.
- If you have the choice between plastic or metal, always go for plastic. Metal transfers energy faster, so it will melt your ice quicker.
[Edit]Line your container with aluminum foil.[3] - It's all about keeping the heat out! Before you pour your ice into a bucket or cooler, line it with a few sheets of aluminum foil.
- The shiny foil will reflect the heat and light that could melt your ice.
- You can do this in conjunction with wrapping a towel around your container. The more insulation the better!
[Edit]Wrap the container in a kitchen towel.[4] - More insulation means more cooling power. Once your ice is in a bucket or a cooler, wrap it up in a few layers of towels.
- If you have any packaging materials, like bubble wrap, you could put that in between the towel and your ice for even more insulation.
- The air trapped between the layers will help the ice stay frozen for longer.
[Edit]Add salt to your ice to lower the freezing temperature.[5] - If the freezing temperature is lower, the ice will take longer to melt. Pour your ice into a container, then shake a liberal amount of sea salt all over to make it a little bit colder.
- You might even start to see new ice form as the old ice melts.
[Edit]Use a lot of ice so it keeps itself frozen.[6] - The more ice you have, the longer it will take to melt. While it sounds like a no-brainer, you should always make sure you're filling your entire container with ice so it can keep itself cold.
- It's always better to have too much ice than not enough!
- If your cooler lid isn't fitting on properly, siphon some ice out to use in drinks instead.
[Edit]Drain the water as the ice melts.[7] - Water is warmer than frozen ice, so it can melt your frozen cubes. As your ice starts to melt, try to drain your container to keep your ice cold.
- Some coolers have a drainage plug on the side that you can use to pour out your water. Otherwise, just tip your container to the side and let the water drain out.
- Try to check on your water content every hour or so.
[Edit]Bury your container in the ground if you can.[8] - The cold soil can help lower the temperature of your container. Use a shovel to dig out a divet in the earth, then place your cooler or your bucket inside.
- If you've wrapped your container in a towel and lined it with foil, you probably don't need to bury it.
- This is a great method for camping or outdoor parties.
- If the air outside is already pretty cold (say, below freezing), you don't need to worry about burying your container.
[Edit]Put your ice near a fan or AC unit if you're inside.[9] - The colder the air around the ice is, the longer it will stay frozen. Keep your ice out of the sunlight, and put it next to a fan or a chilly air conditioning unit, if you can.
- If the fan or the AC is in a small room, it's even better. Small rooms stay cold for longer, so they'll keep your ice chilly.
- If you're outside, keep your container of ice in the shade.
- Move your ice away from any warm objects, like heaters, stoves, or sunny windows.
[Edit]Store your ice in the backseat, not the trunk.[10] - The trunk of your car can turn into an oven during hot summer months. If you're traveling with your bucket or cooler of ice, keep it in the backseat, not the trunk.
- You can also blast the AC to keep your ice cold if you have a long drive ahead of you.
[Edit]Try larger ice cubes.[11] - The bigger your cubes are, the longer they'll take to melt. If you really want to keep ice around for a long time, buy it in chunks or blocks instead of cubes.
- Crushed ice melts the fastest since it's so small.
[Edit]Make ice with boiled water to it melts slowly.[12] - Boiling water removes the air bubbles from the ice, leading to denser cubes. The denser your cubes are, the longer they'll take to melt.
- Boil your water in a kettle or a pot, then pour it into your ice trays before freezing.
- You can also use this method to make clear ice for fancy cocktails.
- Buy ice right before your party or camping trip so you don't have to worry about keeping it cold for long.
[Edit]References |
| How to Do the Wood Chop Exercise Posted: 30 Dec 2020 12:00 AM PST You may not get any firewood from the wood chop exercise, but your abs may feel like they're on fire once you've finished! This core exercise is a great way to work your obliques, and only requires a light dumbbell or weight. [Edit]Basic Dumbbell Exercise - Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent. Plant your feet on the ground so you stay balanced throughout the exercise.[1] Bend your knees slightly—the wood chop involves a bit of extra movement, and this position gives you a little extra mobility during the workout.[2]
- Grip the ends of a dumbbell with both hands. Grab a lightweight dumbbell that you can lift and swing without any strain. In the wood chop exercise, the dumbbell is the "axe" that you'll be swinging. Grip the weight firmly, so you won't drop it during the exercise.[3]
- Pick a weight that you can lift multiple times without feeling strained. You don't want to hurt or strain yourself during the exercise![4]
- Don't worry if you don't have a dumbbell—weighted medicine balls can get the job done. Hold the ball firmly with both hands, so you don't drop it by mistake.[5] Generally, a ball will work well for this.[6]
- Lift up your arms above your head and twist your hips to the left. Carry the dumbbell over your head with both arms fully extended. Shift your weight to your left foot, standing on your right toe as you lift up your dumbbell. Point your toes to the left as you pivot, so your whole body faces the left.[7]
- Pivot to the right and swing the dumbbell down diagonally. Tighten your core and bring the weight down in a diagonal arc shape, so it's about level with your right knee. Turn your hips and knees to the right as you bring the dumbbell down in a crisp, clean movement. Shift your weight to your right foot and left toes, lifting the rest of your left foot off the ground.[8]
- Pretend you're chopping down a big tree, and you're using your dumbbell as the axe. Twist your body to the right to get a really good swing in!
- Don't swing your dumbbell super fast—this should be a controlled movement. As you go through the exercise, keep your arms fully extended and try not to bend over.
- Pivot to the left and bring the dumbbell back up to the starting position. Shift your weight from your right foot to your left as you pivot back to your left side. Tighten your core and guide the weight back in the air with your arms extended.[9]
- Don't use your back or any other part of your body to "chop." Really work your core to get the most out of your workout!
- Perform 10 reps on both sides of your body. Wood chops can be tough, especially if you're a beginner when it comes to core exercises. Try 10 "chops" on each side of your body, which will help you get a well-rounded workout.[10]
- If you're more experienced with strength training, try up to 3 sets of this exercise.[11]
[Edit]Variations - Lift your weight vertically instead of diagonally. Stand with your feet a little more than shoulder-width apart. Lift and hold your weight over your head, then bend your knees. Pull your hips back as you "chop" the ball in a downward motion toward your knees. Then, return to your original standing position again.[12]
- Don't let your knees go over your toes for this.
- Get in the lunge position and do the wood chop exercise. Bend your right knee forward while your left leg is extended backwards. Hold this position while you do several reps of the wood chop exercise with your weight. Flip around and lunge forward with your left leg as you work out the opposite side of your body.[13]
- Switch out your dumbbell with a resistance band. Install a wall anchor at your home gym, and secure your resistance band around the hooks on the anchor.[14] Kneel on the floor with your left knee bent and extended forward, and your right knee bent and extended backwards. Grip the resistance band handle with both hands and drag it from your left shoulder to your right hip. Tighten your core as you perform multiple wood chop reps, keeping your upper lower body rigid as you pull the resistance band down.[15]
- It may help to kneel on a pad or folded towel while you do this.
- Flip yourself around to workout the opposite side of your body.
- Choose a resistance band that you can use for multiple reps without straining yourself.[16]
- You can easily do the wood chop exercise with a pulley or cable machine at your local gym.[17]
- Breathing can be tricky with core exercises. Try to breathe out while you're contracting your ab muscles, and breathe in while you're restarting the rep.[18]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Dumbbell
- Medicine ball (optional)
- Resistance band (optional)
[Edit]References |
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