Take a Caffeine Nap (Really!)

If you are drowsy when you leave work, drink a cup of coffee, and take a short nap before driving home. Coffee? Then a nap? That may sound odd, but it works.

The trick is to lie down right after you consume the coffee, and nap for 15 to 20 minutes before the caffeine kicks in. When you awaken, you should feel more alert and energetic than you did before the nap.

Drinking coffee before driving home is the one exception to the "avoid caffeine near bedtime" rule. If you still feel drowsy after napping, do not get behind the wheel. Take a taxi, or get a ride from someone else.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes in the United States each year result from driver fatigue. These crashes cause an estimated 1,550 preventable deaths and 40,000 nonfatal injuries annually. Don’t become a statistic. Do not drive when drowsy.