Sleep Deprivation: A Dangerous Habit To Avoid

Don't Sleep is a freeware program designed to prevent a computer from entering sleep mode, shutting down, or taking any other action triggered by periods of inactivity. The software achieves this by convincing the operating system that important tasks are in progress, thus aborting the sleep process. This is particularly useful when running older software on modern operating systems. Don't Sleep is compatible with various versions of the Windows operating system, including Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7. It offers a range of features, such as a timer for time-controlled blocking or shutting down of the computer, and it helps to reduce unnecessary power consumption, which can lead to lower electricity bills. However, frequent use of the program can drain the battery quickly.

Prevent unexpected shutdowns

Unexpected shutdowns can be a huge headache, causing lost revenue, missed deadlines, and unhappy customers. Here are some ways to prevent unexpected shutdowns:

Avoid the Reactive Maintenance Trap

Instead of waiting for equipment failure and then initiating repairs, take a proactive approach. 66% of maintenance professionals report unplanned downtime due to unavailable spare parts, which is a direct consequence of reactive maintenance. Proactive strategies, such as predictive maintenance, can help reduce the duration of downtime and save costs.

Embrace Digital Solutions

Ditch the paper-based work orders and manual entries that lead to inaccurate data, productivity bottlenecks, and limited real-time visibility. Mobile work order management solutions provide real-time equipment health monitoring, instant access to information, and seamless team collaboration. This improves efficiency, reduces costs, boosts productivity, enhances safety, and keeps customers happy.

Foster Effective Communication

Break down the silos between teams and improve communication. With efficient communication tools, technicians can easily find the right person to handle urgent issues, reducing delays and confusion. Real-time updates, instant messaging, and task delegation features ensure everyone is in the loop, enabling swift action and informed decision-making.

Use a Tool Like Don't Sleep

For computers, a free utility like Don't Sleep can prevent unexpected shutdowns. It senses when the screensaver is about to activate or the computer is about to sleep and convinces the operating system that important tasks are in progress, thus aborting the sleep process. However, using such tools can drain the battery faster.

IPhone Performance Management

For iPhone users, iOS dynamically manages performance peaks to prevent unexpected shutdowns. This feature is available on iPhone 6 and later models. It works by considering the device temperature, battery state of charge, and battery impedance to manage the maximum performance of components such as the CPU and GPU. As a result, device workloads self-balance, leading to a smoother distribution of system tasks.

By implementing these strategies, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of unexpected shutdowns, minimize downtime, and improve overall operational efficiency.

Save energy

Saving energy is a crucial aspect of our daily lives, and it's important to extend this practice to our computer usage as well. With the help of tools like Don't Sleep, we can achieve this goal and also increase the lifespan of our computers.

Don't Sleep is a free utility for Windows that prevents your computer from entering sleep mode, activating power-saving measures, or shutting down automatically. By doing so, it helps you save energy and reduce your electricity bill. This is especially beneficial when you need to run older software on modern operating systems, ensuring uninterrupted performance.

One of the key advantages of Don't Sleep is its ability to prevent unnecessary power consumption. It achieves this by keeping your computer active and avoiding automatic shutdowns, especially during critical tasks. This not only saves energy but also maximizes the lifespan of your machine. The app is easy to use and configure, allowing you to set parameters that align with your specific needs.

Additionally, Don't Sleep offers a timer feature that provides time-controlled blocking or shutting down of your computer. This is particularly useful during long downloads or software installations. The app also includes various alerts to notify you when it's about to turn off your system, giving you full control over your energy usage.

While using Don't Sleep can drain your battery faster than usual, it remains a valuable tool for managing your computer's energy consumption. By scheduling the time for your computer to enter sleep mode, you can strike a balance between energy savings and ensuring your work is safe and secure.

Increase computer lifespan

Computers are an investment, and like any investment, it is important to protect them. Here are some tips to increase the lifespan of your computer:

Keep it Covered and Clean

Dust, dirt, and pet hair can gum up the gears and cause issues with your computer's functioning. Remember to clean your computer and keep it covered when not in use to prevent dust and dirt from getting into the inner components. Use canned air to remove debris, especially from fans. If fans get clogged with too much dirt, they can slow down and not remove the heat from the computer, causing a meltdown much earlier. Clean your screen with screen cleaner, never window cleaner, as the ammonia will dull the screen.

Don't Smoke or Eat/Drink Around Your Computer

Liquid spilled on a laptop keyboard can be devastating. In a laptop, all the important components sit right underneath the keyboard, and unless your computer has a spill guard, any liquid will seep down into the hardware and short it out. Food debris can also get stuck in a keyboard and cause keys to become unusable. Smoke residue causes internal and external damage and can layer tar/residue inside your case and components.

Don't Shutdown Your Computer Too Often

Computer components heat up during use and cool down when the system is shut down. The less this happens, the longer the computer life you can generally enjoy. However, it is also not recommended to leave your computer running 24/7. A good balance is to shut the computer down every other day or every two days to give it a chance to configure updates and settle down.

Don't Leave Laptops Plugged In All the Time

The ideal charge rate for laptop batteries is to charge to 80% and then let it drain to 40%. This can prolong the life of your battery by up to four times. Constant heat also puts undue stress on batteries. An easy way to preserve battery life is to remove the battery once it reaches maximum power and have your laptop run solely off AC power.

Update Software & Perform Regular Maintenance

If you are running Windows, make sure you install Windows Updates weekly. Windows Updates contain patches, security fixes, and software/driver updates that will keep your system running smoothly. Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter are two other programs that should be run regularly. Disk Cleanup removes selected unnecessary files taking up space on your hard drive, while Disk Defragmenter helps files on your hard drive run more efficiently by consolidating “fragmented” files.

Avoid power-saving mode

To avoid power-saving mode on your Windows 10 computer, you can disable power-saving mode entirely. Here's how:

• Click the battery icon on the right side of the taskbar.
• Select "Battery Settings".
• Scroll down to the "Battery Saver" section and disable the checkbox next to "Turn battery saver on automatically if my battery falls below".

Alternatively, if you want to keep power-saving mode on but want to prevent your computer from entering sleep mode, you can use a free-to-use utility like "Don't Sleep". This app prevents your computer from entering sleep mode, activating power-saving measures, shutting down automatically, or taking any other action triggered by periods of inactivity. However, using an app like this can drain the battery quicker than usual.

If you're using a smartphone, you can disable power-saving mode by going to "Settings" > "Battery and Device Care" > "Battery". On this screen, tap "Power Saving Mode" and make sure that all the toggles are off. On an iPhone, if you're prompted to use Low Power Mode, simply select "No".

Customisable settings

Don't Sleep is a highly customisable freeware program that gives you control over your computer's power settings. The program is designed to prevent your computer from entering sleep mode, activating power-saving measures, shutting down, or taking any other action triggered by periods of inactivity.

The customisable settings in Don't Sleep allow you to tailor the program to your specific needs. Here are some of the key customisable features:

• Timer Functionality: Don't Sleep has a timer that allows you to control when your computer blocks or shuts down. This feature is useful for long downloads or software installations, as it ensures your computer remains active during these critical tasks.
• Duration Settings: You can set the program to remain active for a certain duration or specify an exact time for your machine to turn off. This gives you flexibility depending on your requirements.
• Alert Options: Don't Sleep provides various alerts to notify you when the program is about to turn off your system. This helps you stay informed and aware of your computer's status.
• Power Saving Options: While Don't Sleep prevents your system from entering sleep mode or activating power-saving measures, you can still manually adjust the power-saving options on your system. This includes standby, hibernate, and turn-off settings.
• From-Tray Feature: The program offers a From-Tray feature that includes options such as power off, reboot, log off, and restart. This gives you quick access to commonly used functions.
• Network Traffic-Based Shutdown: Don't Sleep can be set to prevent sleep or trigger a shutdown based on network traffic. This feature is handy for managing your computer's power state remotely or when specific network conditions are met.
• CPU Load-Based Shutdown: Similarly, you can configure Don't Sleep to prevent shutdown or sleep mode based on CPU load. This ensures that your computer remains active during periods of high CPU usage.
• Compatibility: Don't Sleep is compatible with various versions of Microsoft Windows, including Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7. It can be used on desktops, tablets, Surface Pro/Go, and even server operating systems.

With its customisable settings, Don't Sleep provides users with a versatile tool to manage their computer's power state effectively. Whether you need to keep your computer active during critical tasks or want to schedule specific shutdown times, Don't Sleep offers a range of options to suit your preferences.

Frequently asked questions