I really do. It’s as if I’m being drugged. I try really hard to stay awake, but I always end up with heavy eyelids. It’s embarrassing and I’m afraid my boss will see it one of these days. How can I stay awake? Does anyone else have this problem?
If you’re not getting enough sleep, get more.
If you are getting enough sleep, get yourself tested for sleep apnea. I had it undiagnosed for a few years, and I fell asleep in classes and even behind the wheel once (that’s what convinced me to get tested).
Poke yourself in the leg with a tack. Or sit on a super ball.
I second the motion to get tested for sleep apnea, assuming you (think) you are getting enough sleep at night. I used to have the same problem, and getting the apnea treated took care of it in a big way.
My other suggestion - from my pre-treatment days - drink a lot of water and don’t go to the bathroom before your meeting. A painfully full bladder will keep you very alert (albeit a bit distracted).
What’s the treatment for sleep apnea? Meetings are the only time it happens.
I only have two meetings per week (usually) and like most meetings, they’re boring as hell. I tend to nod off during thse meetings, and yes, it is embarrassing, especially when a fellow attendee ribs you about it afterwards. I find that chewing on some gum usually helps to keep me awake. A full bladder also helps as Skammer suggested.
If at all possible, get more involved in the meeting, I find that meetings I’m not really involved in are much harder to stay awake through. Icewater helps too, keep a cup of it around and sip it constantly, the coldness will shock you awake, a little at least.
IANAMD but if the only time you’re nodding off is in meetings I doubt you have it. Can you get up in the meeting and move around when you’re starting to doze? And I was serious about poking yourself in the leg or sitting on a ball. The slight pain/pressure will help you focus.
You’re just an unmotivated worker. Your boss needs to send you to a motivational workshop where you’ll learn to empower yourself to stay awake.
Some time back–I mean waaay back–there was a thread here about what people did to pass the time in meetings. One of the more creative things I read was that Doper imagines that his building has tipped over on its side and he has to find his way out. That means climbing way up or way down to get to doors, rigging gear to hoist himself, etc. Very engaging, and when you get done you can imagine it tipping the other way.
Is it all meetings, or the ones an hour after a meal? If there is a correlation with sleep and eating, you may have a blood sugar problem.
Any chance you’re diabetic?
The only thing worse than falling asleep in a boring meeting is falling asleep in one where you have an interest and are there to actively participate in.
If you had sleep apnea, it would affect you at other times. I would fall asleep watching TV, listening to music, even waiting for the traffic light to turn green. If you have no other symptoms, your problem is probably just too many boring meetings.
I have found that the only way for me to avoid this is to get enough sleep at night. Anything else (extra-strong coffee, pinching myself, etc) does only last a few minutes. If I haven’t got enough sleep I try to get and stay involved. Anything to avoid a repeat of that one instance where I woke up suddently, everyone was looking at me and I realized I must have snored.
I find some of the responses here amusing. OP asks what to do cause she finds it hard to stay awake at a meeting and gets suggestions that she may have sleep apnea or be diabetic. Not picking on anyone and yeah, those are certainly possible causes but it’s more likely she has the same problem I have. The meetings are just really boring! I manage to stay awake by participating in the meeting even if it’s just to ask someone to repeat what they just said. Of course you might have a brain tumor! 
You might want to keep your resume updated. If you were my employee, I’d have fired you yesterday. I have plenty of prospective employees begging to work here. Seriously.
Drink a Mountain Dew or get some caffeine pills, but whatever you do, find some way to stay awake and look interested if you are serious about your job.
This is the reason why god invented PDAs. Play a little solitare to keep yourself focused, while still participating at the right moments to make your co-workers realize that you are paying attention to the meeting.
-lv
I’m reminded of a sign I saw on the wall of one of our conference rooms here at the World’s Second Best-Selling Aircraft Company:
When I die I hope it’s in a staff meeting. The transition will be so subtle as to be imperceptible.