Men’s Health Australia — September 2017

Early sunrises and “just the one” after-work

beers can make it hard to get your six hours in.

(Come on, who seriously ever manages eight?)

But whether you’re accustomed to the

perennial lack of sleep or not, try to remember

that tiredness harms more than just your

ability to keep your eyes open on the 7:32.

A new study in the Journal of Experimental

Psychology shows that tired-looking people

are perceived as less intelligent than their

well-rested peers. And that makes a double

espresso a key ally before a big presentation.

However, don’t go in thinking you can fool

the crowd with wide eyes and big hand

gestures – you’ll just look like a less intelligent

man on amphetamines. Researchers

identified “subtle frowning” – a downward

curvature of the mouth – as a key negative

marker. So what you might perceive as

professional froideur or earnest focus can

actually just come across as, well, a bit dim.

A casual smile, on the other hand, was seen

as a major sign of alertness.

Our advice? When coffee alone won’t cut it,

try this: save the used grounds and apply them

under your eyes (wait, wait – let them cool first)

for five minutes. Caffeine constricts blood

vessels below the skin’s surface to reduce

puffiness. You may feel less than clever, but

you’ll be ready to face the daily grind.

ONE

WORD

ANSWER

QUESTION

Which essential

grooming tool will

raise your standing

at work?

ANSWER

Coffee

WORDS:

SCARLETT

WRENCH

Your daily long

black can

buttress a long,

prosperous

career.