Boring meetings can happen anywhere: work, school or even church.

I am only in my mid-twenties, but have sat through countless boring meetings. This post is a collection of methods I use to stay awake and moderately attentive when meetings get tedious.

Lift a Leg

I learned this one from the CEO of a venture capital firm who has seen more than his fair share of boring meetings. Whenever he gets sleepy, he lifts one of his feet an inch or so off the floor. This method really works! The attention required to keep your foot elevated fights off droopy eyelids and jaw-cracking yawns.

One note of caution:

It’s best to have a table or other object in front of you, otherwise it looks a bit strange to have your foot hovering in the air.

Chew on Something

Most of these suggestions involve some sort of movement and this one involves your mouth! Mints and gum are great things to put in your mouth to keep you awake. The chewing action and the cool minty flavor do wonders to keep your eyes open.

Another note of caution:

This method is recommended only if you have a passive listening role in the meeting. Many people consider chewing on something while speaking to be rude and unprofessional.

Get an Attention Buddy

When my wife gets bored, she fidgets. If I’m with her, she decides to bother me by flicking, pinching, poking or otherwise keeping me awake. I don’t think her purpose is to keep me awake, but it works that way! Find someone to be your attention buddy and keep each other awake during boring meetings.

The Yoga Breath of Fire

I’ve been practicing yoga for a few years now and love how it helps me reduce stress and relax. Yoga practitioners employ several breathing exercises to relax and/or energize the body. The breath of fire is one of the easiest breathing exercises for increasing energy and focus.

Basically, it is a rapid, constant breath that works the lungs and diaphragm. The breath of fire floods the body with oxygen, which keeps you alert during boring meetings. Follow this link to yogayoga.com (scroll down to the “breath of fire” section) for detailed instructions on the breath of fire technique.

How do you stay awake during boring meetings?

Tags: boring meetings, breath of fire, yoga

• Digg
• Stumble it!
• Reddit

• The Best of Tim Ferriss
• DMM: How to Write an Ebook That Doesn’t Suck, in 14 Days or Less, the Smart Way
• DMM: Cheap High-End Clothes, Deodorant Delivery, and Money Mind Games