Around the time of the Spring Equinox, as the weather turns warmer, people often feel drowsy, a phenomenon we commonly call "spring sleepiness." Experts say spring sleepiness is inevitable but can affect work efficiency, especially for drivers who must pay attention to road safety and guard against it. So, how can you combat spring sleepiness during the Spring Equinox?
How to Combat Spring Sleepiness during the Spring Equinox: Relieving Spring Sleepiness Isn't About More Sleep
The warm weather makes people feel lethargic. Spring sleepiness is contagious, making everyone yawn uncontrollably. In fact, spring sleepiness isn't an illness; it's a physiological phenomenon where the body's functions adjust to the changing seasons. In winter, to prevent heat loss, the skin and tiny blood vessels are in a state of tense constriction, maintaining the body's core temperature and increasing excitatory signals to the central nervous system, which keeps the mind alert. In spring, with moderate temperatures, the skin and tiny blood vessels dilate, increasing blood supply to the body's surface. Consequently, the blood flow to the brain decreases, leading to the drowsiness of spring sleepiness.
Simply sleeping more isn't the solution for relieving spring sleepiness. Exercise can significantly speed up the brain's reaction time to information processing and effectively prevent it. In spring, it's best to be active in sunny, well-greened areas, take more deep breaths to provide the brain with fresh, abundant oxygen, which can improve your mood, refresh your spirit, and eliminate tiredness.
How to Combat Spring Sleepiness during the Spring Equinox: Keep Aerobic Exercise Intense
The best way to combat spring sleepiness is through aerobic exercise, such as jogging, Pilates, yoga, or Tai Chi. These activities speed up the body's metabolism, boost immunity, and increase oxygen supply to the body and brain. For example, Pilates works muscle groups that are difficult to target with regular aerobic exercise. Issues like shoulder pain, soreness from sitting for long periods, or muscle discomfort can be improved through Pilates.
Spring weather can be unpredictable, with warm spells followed by cold ones, so aerobic exercise intensity shouldn't be too high. You could choose to brisk walk 3 times a week for 30 minutes each time, with a step frequency of 60 to 80 steps per minute. Additionally, combining this with yoga, Pilates, or Tai Chi can help mobilize joints, relax muscles, and relieve physical and mental fatigue.
How to Combat Spring Sleepiness during the Spring Equinox: Do More Head Massages in the Office
Air in the office is often not well-circulated, making it easy to feel drowsy after working for a long time. The secret to office exercises is to choose simple, easy, and short activities that offer great relaxation. You can do full-body stretches to improve concentration for half an hour a day.
In addition, proper head massages can also be very effective for refreshing the mind. Clasp your fingers together and gently press the fingertips on your temples, rotating clockwise 6 times, then counter-clockwise 6 times.
Place both hands on your forehead with the finger pads aligned. Start pressing from the center of your eyebrows, to the center of your forehead, to the center of your scalp, to the top of your head, and finally to the hollow at the back of your hairline (Fengchi acupoint). Repeat this 6 times.
Place both hands on your forehead with the finger pads aligned. Gently press from the center of your eyebrows outwards towards the temples. Repeat this 6 times.
Using the finger pads of both hands, start from the occipital bone at the back of your head and massage the scalp with a light, deep, upward spiral motion, gradually moving up until you have massaged the entire scalp. Stop when you feel your scalp is relaxed and the tension is gone.
Cover both ears with your hands, placing your fingers behind your head. Try to get the fingers of both hands as close together as possible, then tap the back of your head with your four fingers as if playing the piano, counting to 36 in your mind.
Finally, do a "hair-combing" motion. Slightly bend the ten fingers of both hands and comb your hair from the front hairline to the back of your head, while simultaneously massaging your scalp. Repeat this action at least 10 times.