Having a hard time staying up in a meeting?

I have posted "How to stay up when attending a meeting" and I realized that it entails a lot of planning thus may not be applicable if if things won't go as plan. Meaning, you did not have a lot of sleep, you were not able to read the presentation in advance, and you ended up very sleepy in a meeting.

So I came up with "quick and dirty" tips that can keep you awake in a meeting.

1. Drink a lot of coffee.
In your way to the meeting area, drink at least two cups of coffee.
If you don't like to drink coffee then grab a Coke or Pepsi.
If you still don't drink any of them eat chocolate. The idea is to take in a lot of caffeine.

2. Look around you and look for people who are also trying keep themselves awake.
When you start to feel sleepy, try to look around and look for people who are trying their best to keep themselves awake. If you've tried this technique in the past you've probably know how funny people looks like when they are trying to fight drowsing. You will feel that sleeping in a meeting is so embarrassing that you mind will try to "avoid" embarrassment by keeping you awake. Also, if you saw somebody sleeping in a meeting, give him/her a small tap. Somehow, rebuking others will put your mind in "defensive mode" and will keep you awake in the process.

3. Take notes.
Taking notes will help you in sync with the discussion. Caution though: don't draw on your notes while a discussion is going on. Doing so will not only make you look unprofessional but this will also take you away from the discussion.

4. Try to ask questions.
Asking questions will keep your mind working thus making sure that you will not fall asleep.

5. If everything does not work, excuse yourself and go to the restroom.
Wash your face with water. The cold water should give you a fresh feeling and should keep you awake. Many times, this is more effective than drinking coffee. If washing your face does not work include your hair. Do this very quickly and make sure your hair is dry when you come back to the meeting area.:)

So there you have it. I hope you can use these tips to keep yourself awake.:)