How to cope with Game of Thrones-related tiredness

Let's be honest, Monday mornings are always a bit of a pain when you have to be up early for work after a weekend full of fun and frivolity. However, for anyone who is a fan of the hit HBO series Game of Thrones - and judging by the talk around the office this morning, that's pretty much everyone - this particular Monday morning just got that little bit harder. In the past, major US TV shows premiered across the pond first, with viewers in the UK not able to lay eyes on their favourite programme until later in the year. As this led to many people downloading the shows illegally before they were officially shown on UK screens, the programme's creators HBO decided that for the season four premiere, the episode would be aired simultaneously in both the UK and US. While this is obviously great news for Game of Thrones fans in the UK, the 2am start time on Sky Atlantic will no doubt make things even fuzzier for Britain's beleaguered nine-to-fivers this morning. If you find yourself in this very position today, here are a few tips from us to help you make it through until you can get back in your warm bed at a reasonable time this evening.

Food When we are feeling a little woolly around the edges due to lack of sleep, our natural instinct is to reach for chocolate and caffeine to give us the boost needed to get us through the day. While this may work in the very short term, the famous drops experienced after having too much sugar or caffeine are definitely not what the doctor orders when you're already feeling fatigued. Instead, snacking on nuts that are full of healthy fats, fibre and protein will give you the boost you need and fill you up, without the risk of the dreaded drops. We expect nut sales to go through the roof this afternoon! Drink Keeping hydrated is another sure-fire way of staying productive at work even if you aren't feeling 100 per cent. As mentioned above, coffee may seem very appealing, but too much can easily dehydrate you and make you feel even worse. As recent studies have shown, a small amount of coffee shouldn't dehydrate you, but even if you do have a little coffee, it is best practice to supplement it with the recommended eight-to-ten 200ml glasses of water a day, especially if you are feeling tired. Exercise It may be the last thing you fancy if all you can think of is your warm and cosy bed, but to keep your mind alert and lethargy at bay, stretching your legs regularly is recommended. It is best practice anyway, but moving around for five-to-ten minutes every hour will help to keep you alert and awake, and stop those muscles getting to tense. Follow these tips above and you should make it through to five with no problems, and don't worry, as of next week, Game of Thrones will be shown in the more reasonable weekly slot of 9pm on Mondays on Sky Atlantic.