Tips to stay awake and alert (Early Access related)

[JustintimeSS]

Level of faith before

|-----O---------------------------|

when i really cant be bothered to go for a piss first thing in the morning, i piss in an empty bottle and throw the bottle out of the window into my backyard then I wash my hands with flat lemonade (Uk here, lemonade is carbonated)

Level of faith after -

|--O------------------------------|

[Encarn]

This thread is intended for those who choose to participate in this behavior. I am in no way trying to persuade others who do not think it is a good idea.

Just as alcohol is pretty much a negative across the board (other than as a social lubricant), there are those who see its benefits being worth the cost.

Go figure. Humans and free will.

[Spriggan]

Meditation and Willpower.

[Voidism]

What ever happened to Darwin taking care of us?

Tsk tsk. This is darwinism in action. Soon we will grow cup holders from the head.

[fyrn]

Simple: tissue saturation for caffeine is at around 350mg for a grown adult. Hit it. Keep the level. Don't be a pussy. (Disclaimer: if you start feeling jitters or heart racing and other side effects, stop drinking, wait for them to go away, then ingest the caffeine slower than you did before ;p)

[Idras]

Haha, while reading your list, I could not think about anything else but this from the South Park Episode about WoW

[drtrann]

additional advise:

1. STAY AWAY FROM FATTY/HIGH SUGAR FOOD: to keep your body functioning properly you need to regularly eat a small combination of fruit, a few select groups of vegetables. a healthy portion of nuts also provides a huge amount of protein and other nutrients that are necessary for long function

2. your understanding of how to sleep is correct, but with the proper preparation you can push your brain straight into rem sleep skipping the other less necessary functions of slow term sleep. personally i figured this out when cataclysm came out and i was able to sleep ~1 hour a night, wake up feeling as if i had sleep 5-6 hours and see almost no difference in my performance for upward of 1-2 weeks. THIS IS NOT ADVISED FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME LONGER THEN 3-4 DAYS, THE LONG TIME RAMIFICATIONS COULD BE SERIOUS (insomnia, memory loss, inability to function after a period of several weeks)

3.stay away from caffeine and sugar: unfortunately while everyone reacts differently to caffeine the end result is usually a crash, and candy/sugar wont help you much more. aside from checking your blood sugar every 15 minutes and having a considerable understanding of your own metabolism, consuming sugar or caffeine will ultimately hinder you over time. that said if you need a gental boost that wont leave you with a massive crash and wont give you kidney stones, a GREEN BLACK OR WHITE tea provides small doses of caffeine over time

[Deleted]

and some more additional advises:

Get some Jack3d - it's an pre-workout drink for fitness guys but it keeps you awake to an silly amount of time. I once tested it pre cata and did not just stay awake for 48h into cataclysm but was fully focused on what I was doing. Gave it to my girlfriend once, she shivered all night long althoug she tried to sleep. Best thing to really stay awake and mentally fit but don't overdose it - one scoop has around 900mg caffeine

Other things already been said:
- stay hydrated
- no complex carbs in form of high sugar food (raises insulin levels) making you more hungry and tired
- if your are really addicted to this game, your mind will early wake you up after a sleep break - it's a normal reaction to addiction. If you're not that addicted, it's ok - just get your sleep well

[Trojan7evin]

This thread is intended for those of you planning to maximize your hours played per day. There are several simple strategies and tips that will help you stay awake and playing into the wee hours, long after the masses have retreated to their beds.

A simple saying is very important if you plan on altering your normal sleep schedule.

"You cannot skip sleep, you can only borrow against it."

The first step in ensuring that you can stay up longer is by paying back any sleep deficits you currently have. Do this by getting 8+ hours of sleep for 2-3 days depending on how deeply in deficit you are. This will allow you to enter Tuesday's EA with energy and a minimum of fatigue.

Caffeine affects different people in different ways, as does sugar.

Ingesting massive amounts of caffeine can often have detrimental physical effects in the short term that may actually hurt your ability to focus. Concentrated forms of caffeine (like caffeine pills) may also cause stomach discomfort and GI distress.

Massive sugar intake also creates a seesaw effect due to your body seeking to achieve homeostasis. That is the sugar crash you will feel a few hours after the initial sugar high. Try to avoid carb-loading with sugary drinks and carb-rich breads and grains (pasta, pizza crust). Eat balanced and light meals with small snacks.

Stay hydrated.

Hydration is an unnecessary stress that can be easily avoided. Being dehydrated will inhibit your ability to concentrate and perform complex tasks. It may also cause headaches and fatigue. There isn't a set amount of water that every person needs to drink - everyone is different. Drink until your thirst is quenched and urine is more clear than yellow. NEON ORANGE urine is bad. Also, drinking gallons of water in a short period of time can kill you - so don't do that either.

By staying hydrated, your body will be operating at optimum. It will allow your body to better handle the stress of sleep deprivation.

Play with friends/family, preferably in the same room.
By having someone to speak with and engage in conversation, you will stay more alert and feel less fatigued. Make Early Access a social event. Then you can draw penises all over the first guy to fall asleep. (I kid, I kid!)

Accept that sooner, or later, you are going to crash. (See first tip)
It's going to happen. Plan ahead before you hit the couch/bed. Set an alarm for a realistic amount of sleep based on how you feel.

Missed one. Take frequent short breaks and walk around.
As it is Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, take advantage of the cold weather by slipping outside for a few minutes. This is an invigorating sensation that will help wake you if you are feeling sleepy.

This is not medical advice, nor do I condone you pissing in bottles, nor pooping in socks. I am just providing knowledge so that you may avoid some simple mistakes that may put an end to an exciting first day in Early Access.

Have fun. I'll see you in-game.

you put the lotion on its skin, or else it gets the hose again! xD lmfao

[iggie]

Dropped $300 on food/necessities for the long haul. Cleaned/reorganized my room, cleaned out my old pc, and got a new razer naga. My body is ready.

[vizzle]

Also, for those people planning on staying up more than a day just to get "FIRSTZTZ", consider against it. There's really no reason, no reason at all. Why screw your body over just for a game launch?

[Deleted]

i heard drinking charlie sheens blood helps.

---------- Post added 2011-12-11 at 02:27 AM ----------

Also, for those people planning on staying up more than a day just to get "FIRSTZTZ", consider against it. There's really no reason, no reason at all. Why screw your body over just for a game launch?

some people do like the challenge.. maybe david blaine will attempt it one year.

[Thornstar]

I waited 3 years for this game. I intend to take my time and enjoy the experience. When I get tired I will go to sleep, when I need a drink or a break I will take one. My guilds also not raiding until the end of January at start. We want to enjoy the game. We waited for it long enough. This is not a race in the slightest for me.

[nyoan]

Had a professor claim folks in the Navy in his day would put a drop of tabasco in each eye to stay awake on a night watch...seems to be counterproductive for game playing.

[Semihage]

Jesus.. why would you even do that to yourself? To me this game is all about enjoying the leveling experience and story through voice acting.

[Marxman]

The things that work best for me for long gaming sessions are pretty simple.

1. Nuts and Fruits to snack on. These give you an energy boost throughout your session. Avoid eating large meals, fatty foods, sugary foods, or huge amounts of caffeine. You want a small trickle of caffeine entering your system over a long period of time to maintain a decent energy level and prevent any sort of crash. I like Green Tea for caffeine, but you can drink whatever you want as long as it has caffeine and doesn't have sugar.

2. TAKE BREAKS EVERY 2 HOURS! Go to the bathroom, get a drink, walk your dog for 15 minutes, or just step outside for a few minutes and walk around a bit. The cold air will wake you up a bit. It's also important to stretch and walk around to prevent physical fatigue, eye strain, and general soreness. I personally can't stare at a PC monitor for more than an hour without getting a headache, so I take frequent 5 minute breaks.

[JustintimeSS]

Here is what I'm going to to do -

Have my expresso
See if I can play
If not - run 3 miles at 8 am
If so - play
After 3 miles - see if I can play
If not - have breakfast
If so - have breakfast
See if I can play
If not - complain on mmo forums and check every minute
If so - play
Have mid day protein shake
Playing? if not complain.
Have lunch
Playing? in not complain.
Make dinner
Talk to wife about how it's going while playing/not playing
watch a show (probably biggest loser finale up in here!)
Go to the gym
Have protein shake
Take a shower
Play until I pass out

I drink 2 gallons of water a day so...

[DaGhostDS]

Heres what im gonna do:

Do what i do every day without any changes except for the game im playing.

[mizeri]

i think i am gonna take it slow and have fun playing it other then get to 50 and sit around till others catches up

[Tigercat]

What am I going to do that day?

The same thing I do every day, pinky. TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD....of Ord Mantell