How Do You Stay Awake

[LINY Rob]

eat good food, not donuts.

drink water and caffiene free soda- too much stimulants can be bad.
Once I had a cup of coffee in between each job- I was a wreck.

[forestfireguy]

Frequent pee breaks. lots of water, no heavy meals and never a chick on the truck, imagine hitting a curb at the wrong time.............

[grandview]

All I can say to that is

[Lawnscape89]

Thinking about the $$ I'm making and how I'm gonna spend it usually keeps me going

[oman1999]

My only vice and it's a bad one is smoking.

I take care of everything else. Plenty or water and Gatorade. Power bars, etc. to avoid plower's gut. (I keep a bottle of Pepto and some of the chewables just in case). Frequent pee breaks.

We actually had a contest last year, all the guys peed in their own milk jug. Amazing how easy it is to fill a gallon.

Anyway. SMOKING!!! The last snowstorm had me out for 66 hours (paid) and I smoked 2 cartons of Camel lights. I've tried chew, dip and even the packets but they just don't do it.

Normally I only smoke a half-pack a day. When i'm in a plow truck....i'm a chimney.

[MickiRig1]

I get as much sleep as I can before hand. Then I drink coffee the whole time.I love coffee. It's the next best thing after a smoke in the morning. I de - ice the dumpster's at every place I plow. I work nights on an ambulance so it's not a real stretch to work all night and into the next day. I know Miss. Exhaustion and MR. Fatigue real well.

[Mark Oomkes]

Boy, did this thread ever go donwhill. No offense, but you guys that stay out more than 18-20 hours on anything close to a regular basis are insane.

This is way beyond being safe. If my customers won't allow me to get some rest even in an extended storm, then they won't be my customers. JMHO

[Antnee77]

Originally Posted by Epic Lawn Care

Never had a problem with it, when there is work to be done just do it.

Same here. Once I get started, I don't want to stop.

[grandview]

In 1995 we had a storm went out Thur.6 am we finished up for Monday Night Football. I still remember the faces in the snow banks laughing at me!

[loyboy]

Sometimes I turn the tunes up and sing to myself. Just kidding. Alot of chewing tobacco and coffee!

[BushHogBoy]

I got a nice sound system in the truck w/lots of MP3 cd's, regular cd's, Sirius satellite radio..
I got a 5 speed manual with a tight clutch, that oughta keep me awake!
Roll down the windows and listen to the 12V singin and gruntin through the dual 5" stacks..
Can turn on the CB and talk to Darrell or local truckers..
I like coffee it may not be the best for you but I don't use it at first.. I start out with hot chocolate or just cold drinks.
Occasionally I will smoke...
But I really just like a good dip of Skoal or Copenhagen!!! I'm mostly a non-smoker, and i've found that if i'm at a friends house 15-20 miles away through the country and i'm goin home late at night, i'll fall asleep on the way home, but if i throw in a dip, i'm good to go usually..
Oh yea and gettin out in the cold helps wake ya up...

I got friends who are up all night for various reasons either job or they're just up goofin off or whatever, so i can throw the bluetooth on my right ear and call someone up and chat handsfree while workin (thats 10x's better than holdin the phone when plowing especially!!!!!!!)

Pack a cooler full of good snacks, like they said, not junk food if you can avoid it... we all love junk food, but you need solids too. Or find healthier snacks, chex mix or trail mixes are good, popcorn is healthy, granola bars, etc...

Sometimes just stop at a 24/7 convenience store and go in and grab somethin and BS with the clerks for a few minutes, they're usually willing to talk they're bored at night and lonely... just standing, thinking about other stuff and talking and being in the well lit area will wake you up...

[WINTERGROUP]

Saftey First, Do Not Force Your Self, If You Get Into A Accident The Yards Won't Get Cleared Anyway.1/2 Hour Cat Nap When Your Tired Is The Best Bet. I Start Staying Up Later And Later Each Night Starting In November To Get Use To The Lack Of Sleep.

[Diesel Dan]

Crack the windows, turn up the blower, and play music. I'm usually working during the day so running on only a couple hours sleep is common. Avoiding junk food helps, and not using caffeine til you need it. I've been known to wash no-doz (caffeine pills) down with Diet Mt Dew before but I find I'm better off only using stimulant as a last resort, like when you just cannot stay focused and awake.

I ran 3 days a couple years ago with about an hour nap per day, but too heavy on the caffiene had me damn near seeing things by the third day. Drinking water is probably the best, keeps you hydrated and you have to get out and pee. I also take my heavy clothes off when in the truck/machine so I stay just a little chilly. Adderall works great if taken in a reasonable (small) dose, but keep in mind it's illegal if you don't have a script and does have side effects.

[Dogplow Dodge]

Cool thread....


For me, it's all fun. I look forwards to plowing snow all year long, and when I finally get to go out and do it, I'm wide awake...

I try to go to bed early the night before, but it's usually futile, as i'm out the door by midnight. I'm like a big kid playing in the sandbox with a new tonka truck.

It's simply a fun and exciting time for me. Outdoors when there's almost no one else out there, other than the brothers of plowing and a few cop cars patrolling. Winter wonderland of Silent streets, all the trees covered in white flakes and dripping icicles are my pure enjoyment. No distracting drivers, impatient a-holes cutting me off or giving me the finger. A heavenly time for me, being out there and in my truck alone and singing to my tunes over the beautiful sound of my cummins reliably ticking away.

I don't smoke, and drink occasionally, so my time is when everyone else has partied all night, such as new years eve, and I'm up, on the road and cruising around... just because no one else is out blocking my relaxing romp about town. My Case of Costco 1 liter water bottles accumulating empties on the passenger floorboard.....


The occasional stop @ the convenience store for some gum or just a minor break. Falling asleep isn't a problem for me, as I'm just enjoying myself way too much....



I just can't wait.....

[mercer_me]

When I plow all night I only get tired between around 2:00am and sun rise. I just drink Mountain Dew and stop and get out of the truck once in a while to stay awake. Once the sun is up I'm good to go again.

[GSS LLC]

Cappuccino and breakfast pizzas.

[MickiRig1]

This thread is almost 6 years old. Oldie but goody. How to stay awake! The worse part is you get to sleep. Get up and have coffee and start to think "what else can I plow?"

[maelawncare]

Cappuccinos for me. You wind up with wide awake times and drag times, but you eventually get wide awake again. In 06-07 season we had a real bad Ice/Sleet/Snow storm and I wound up plowing for 72hrs straight with no sleep or naps. I usually have a helper with me in the truck so talking helps till they fall asleep. I went through 3 employees that storm, lmao.

[Mark13]

Originally Posted by Diesel Dan

Crack the windows, turn up the blower, and play music. I'm usually working during the day so running on only a couple hours sleep is common. Avoiding junk food helps, and not using caffeine til you need it. I've been known to wash no-doz (caffeine pills) down with Diet Mt Dew before but I find I'm better off only using stimulant as a last resort, like when you just cannot stay focused and awake.

I ran 3 days a couple years ago with about an hour nap per day, but too heavy on the caffiene had me damn near seeing things by the third day. Drinking water is probably the best, keeps you hydrated and you have to get out and pee. I also take my heavy clothes off when in the truck/machine so I stay just a little chilly. Adderall works great if taken in a reasonable (small) dose, but keep in mind it's illegal if you don't have a script and does have side effects.

Holy old thread bump. Definitely new.

[Glenn Lawn Care]

I usually never have had that problem. I've always had time to nap for a little while before I have to go out again after being out all night. Otherwise 5 hour powers work really good.