When you say “goodnight”, it’s usually your cue to go to sleep. However, not everyone goes to sleep at night and some don’t sleep during the night, due to their jobs.
I’ve done plenty of night shifts over the years and I’ll be honest – I struggle with them. But don’t stress because there are some good ways to help you get through the night.
If you’re looking for the best energy drinks to get through a night shift, you’re in the right place.
If you’re in a hurry, I consider Celsius, Xyience, Guru and REIZE to be the best energy drink for your night shift.
Find out all there is to know about these drinks in the article below.
Let’s get started…
What to Look For in Energy Drinks
Caffeine
Caffeine is the main component in energy drinks that gives them their energy-boosting properties. Caffeine is proven to stimulate your brain which can increase alertness and focus.
Caffeine content differs depending on brands where the caffeine content in energy drinks can range from being completely caffeine-free, to containing up to around 300mg of caffeine per can.
With that said, according to research, a healthy adult is recommended to limit their daily caffeine intake to only 400mg. You should ensure that your caffeine intake doesn’t exceed the recommended daily caffeine intake.
Besides the suggested caffeine limit, your caffeine tolerance also plays an important part in determining the suitable amount of caffeine for you.
If you have a lower caffeine tolerance, just a small dose of caffeine can cause you side effects like jitters, anxiousness, or even a headache.
However, even if you have a higher caffeine tolerance, that doesn’t mean you can consume more caffeine daily. Always stay under 400mg.
Sugar
Sugar is yet another main ingredient of many energy drinks that can provide you with energy. However, the energizing effect is only momentary. Once it wears off, you’ll be left with the dreaded sugar crash.
On top of having no health benefits, the sugar crash would leave you feeling more lethargic than you were initially, which I don’t think is desirable for your getting you through a night shift.
The good news is, most energy drinks now provide sugar-free alternatives which you can find on the shelf of your local store too. Even famous brands like Red Bull and Monster have sugar-free options!
Other ingredients
Besides sugar and caffeine, some energy drinks are manufactured with other ingredients such as taurine, guarana, and B vitamins to help you gain better energy for your physical and mental performance.
Taurine, specifically, helps in muscle recovery. Hence, energy drinks with taurine may be suitable for you if your night shift work involves physical labor.
Price
Energy drinks basically contain the same ingredients, what sets them apart would be their branding and marketing. So why spend more on something just because of the brand?
Personally, I would prefer to go for those of a more affordable price range, around $1 per drink. One such option would be a REIZE energy drink, but more on that later.
Availability
Of course, energy drinks are easily available in many 24 hours convenience stores, which means that you could easily get one on the way to your night shift.
Other than that, energy drinks can also be ordered on Amazon and other online sites, where you could even get good bargains. Buying energy drinks in bulk is also cheaper than buying a can a day every day at the store.
Can I depend on energy drinks for night shifts?
Energy drinks are your best friend when it comes to getting you through a night shift. This is because energy drinks can keep you awake, stimulate your brain, and improve your concentration and focus.
These are all important benefits that’ll be useful for you, especially at the start of the week when you’re still adjusting to the timing and routine.
How to stay awake on a night shift with no sleep?
Energy drinks can help you stay awake with no sleep, fuelling your energy to last you through your night shift. With that said, I do hope you’ll be getting sleep after your shift ends ’cause it’s not healthy for you to skip good sleep.
If possible, take a power nap before you begin your night shift. Then when you’re refreshed, grab an energy drink to energize you to get through those back-of-the-clock hours.
In the middle of your shift, if you’re beginning to feel sleepy, you could consume another energy drink to give you another boost of energy to keep you going.
It’ll be good to choose an energy drink with a moderate amount of caffeine as excess caffeine can lead to caffeine overdose.
Also, keep away from sugar —yes you might get powered up by the sugar rush, but the sugar crash afterward will leave you feeling way more lethargic.
How can I get more energy working a night shift?
Below are some ways to get more energy working night shifts:
• Be well rested before working the night shift. Though it might be tough to sleep during the day due to noise, light, and temperature, it’ll be beneficial for you to be well-rested before your night shift.
• Getting enough sleep daily (even if it’s during the day) can help you feel energized and less sleepy during your night shift. Soon, your body would get used to the new sleep pattern of sleeping when the sun is out.
• During your night shift, taking a nap of 20 to 45 minutes can counteract fatigue and provide you with the energy you need to get through your shift. (Don’t take naps while you’re supposed to be working though!)
How do I keep my night shift healthy?
Due to the irregular life routine, night shift workers tend to be at higher risk for weight problems and heart diseases. Hence, you should still strive to be as healthy as possible.
You might have a tendency to skip out on exercise or meals or eat irregularly during your night shift. Although your sleep pattern may be irregular, it’s still no excuse to neglect everything else.
For starters, you can start by prepping your meals beforehand. This would prevent you from reaching for junk food when you’re hungry.
If you’re finding it difficult to implement some exercise in your day, you could try taking the stairs instead of the lift or walking around the office a little bit more. You could also hit the gym before your shift begins.
Exercise might seem energy-draining, but it can actually boost your energy levels and better brain function. So I would recommend exercising even if you’re working a night shift.
How to boost concentration on a night shift?
Caffeinated beverages can boost your concentration on a night shift. This means that reaching out for a cup of coffee or a can of energy drink would be helpful in improving your concentration.
Caffeine works by stimulating your brain to be more alert thus enabling you to concentrate better. It also helps with better memory, which is a result of good concentration.
Energy drinks too can significantly improve your cognitive performance, which would be an added advantage for you while on a night shift.
You can read more on energy drinks and concentration in a previous post I’ve written where I cover things in a lot of detail.
Can energy drinks help nurses on their night shift?
If you’re a nurse, you would be among the “chosen ones” that have to work through the night. To get through working at night, you can drink energy drinks to help them with that.
Energy drinks can help you stay awake, and also promote better alertness and concentration, which are very important in your line of work as a nurse.
Want to know more about the best energy drinks for nurses? You can check out my other article for all the details.
Can Red Bull Energy Drink help me through my night shift?
I personally like that Red Bull contains only 80mg of caffeine, a moderate amount that I believe is suitable for boosting energy without giving you any side effects.
However, Red Bull also comes with 27g of sugar which is a pretty high amount that could potentially lead you to a sugar crash—something you would want to avoid at the beginning of your night shift.
Therefore, I would recommend that you go for an energy drink with less sugar or no sugar content instead.
What’s the best energy drink to stay awake?
The best energy drink for you would depend on your preference and caffeine tolerance. If you have a higher caffeine tolerance, you might like stronger energy drinks—those with 200mg of caffeine, or more.
On the other hand, if you’re more susceptible to the side effects of caffeine, then energy drinks with less caffeine would work better for you to stay awake.
Read on as I’ll be recommending some great energy drinks for your night shift.
Best energy drinks for the night shift
| Energy Drinks | Caffeine (mg) | Sugar (g) |
| Celsius Energy Drink | 200 – 300 | 0 |
| Xyience Energy Drink | 176 | 0 |
| Guru Energy Drink | 100 | 21 |
| REIZE Energy Drink | 50 | 0 |
Celsius Energy Drink
If you’re looking for a strong energy drink, look no further. Celsius Energy Drink comes with 200 to 300 mg of caffeine, and you can choose a flavor to suit your taste preferences.
Understandably, there are some days when you might feel the need for an extra caffeine kick, especially after a night shift without any sleep.
Keep in mind that with a greater dosage of caffeine, comes greater potential side effects.
Xyience Energy Drink
Although containing less caffeine than Celsius Energy Drink, Xyience Energy Drink still packs an effective energizing effect with 176mg of caffeine.
Besides that, it also contains guarana seed extract in it, so it might contain more caffeine than what’s stated on the label.
This is however sugar-free too, so it’s one of the healthier options.
Guru Energy Drink
Guru Energy Drink is also marketed as a healthier option with 100mg of naturally occurring caffeine derivative.
However, it has 21g of sugar, which I don’t think is really healthy be it sugar from cane syrup or white grape concentrate as any form of sugar is still sugar.
The caffeine content in Guru might not cause a crash but the sugar amount could potentially do so.
REIZE Energy Drink (10 out of 10)
Here’s a delicious powdered energy drink that comes in a sachet. REIZE Energy Drink can easily fit into your work bag or pocket, allowing you to easily mix it with your beverage of choice anytime, anywhere.
I personally like that it’s not only sugar-free but also that it only contains a sensible 50mg of caffeine, which I find is sufficient to energize me well enough for my night shift without any impending sugar or caffeine crash.
I can also get a good sleep after my shift ends as the caffeine amount doesn’t affect my sleep.
Best of all, REIZE only costs about $1 per drink, including shipping right to your door. That’s amazing value for money.
Try REIZE today and you might also find that REIZE is the perfect energy drink for you on your next night shift.