Keep your fuel tanks high so you don't get stranded.

1982 - The Computer has just been named Time's "Person of the Year" and MoonPatrol is on your arcade screen. This simple game involves jumping craters and avoiding asteroids, but it also introduced the idea of a fuel tank - one that can drain and leave you stranded.

Today, we talk about keeping your own fuel tank high with sleep.

Complete all requirements to earn 3 Barry Bucks.

Be entered to win: a Jerky.com gift bag to keep protein high.

Game Levels

Activity 1: Learn Effects of Fatigue

In Moon Patrol, the effects of using too much energy without refueling lead to your death.

In real life, it can be eerily similar.

To start, watch these two short videos:

The first on the effects of fatigue, and the second on dealing with it.

Fatigue Management: The Right Way (3:01)

How to Stay Awake at Work (1:23)

Activity 2: Learn 7 How to Fall Asleep

"Get more sleep." Much easier said than done, right? Some of you may be able to fall asleep in under 5 minutes after your head hits the pillow (lucky!) but for most of us, it's quite a while longer.

Below, read through some proven techniques to help you get some shut eye faster.

If you're one of the lucky ones, still read through this info - it could help a friend!

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR)

The premise is to tense — but not strain — your muscles, then relax to release the tension.

1. Raise your eyebrows as high as possible for 5 seconds. This will tighten your forehead muscles. Relax your muscles and you will feel the tension drop. Pause 10 seconds.
2. Smile widely to create tension in your cheeks. Hold for 5 seconds. Relax. Pause 10 seconds.
3. Squint with your eyes shut. Hold 5 seconds. Relax. Pause 10 seconds.

4. Tilt your head back to stretch your neck. Hold 5 seconds. Relax. Pause 10 seconds.

5. Continue this method of creating tension and relaxing it down each part of your body, until you get to your toes - if you get that far before drifting off to sleep.

Practice the Military Method

During World War II, Lloyd Bud Winter developed a relaxation technique that is said to have helped the U.S. Navy preflight school airmen fall asleep in 120 seconds. It took 6 weeks of practice, but had a 96% success rate.

1. Relax your entire face, including the muscles inside your mouth.
2. Drop your shoulders to release the tension, and let your hands drop to the side of your body.
3. Exhale, relaxing your chest.
4. Relax your legs, thighs, and calves.
5. Clear your mind for 10 seconds by imagining a relaxing scene.
6. If this doesn’t work, try saying “don’t think” repeatedly for 10 seconds.
7. Repeat, if necessary.

Imagine a Scene in Major Detail.

Let a scene take up your entire mind, down the minute details. The key is to take your mind off everything else.

1. You pick the scene - your dream house is a good one. Try not to pick a field or similar, you want something with tons of tiny details to notice. Also do not pick a real place, you don't want to get stressed trying to remember what's truly there.

2. Begin to "walk" the scene. With every few steps, imagine exactly what you see. What's up, down, left, and right of you. What material is the sidewalk? Is there a tiny bug flitting around? What do the clouds look like?

3. Imagine - What do you smell, hear, feel in this place?

4. Keep this up as you walk to the house, in the front door... if you make it that far before drifting off!

Helpful Apps

"There's an app for that!"

1. Headspace - sleepcasts are 45-minute audios, sort of like adult bedtime stories. They also have meditations and calming music, among other offerings. Cost: $13/month (most expensive on the list).

2. Noisli - listen to white noise (or many other colors of noise), or sounds like rain, camping, ocean, and more. You can even combine them and make custom sounds. Cost: $2 for app, free on website.

3. Slumber - includes bedtime stories, meditations, and calming sounds. Cost: There are 10+ combo options available for free, then $8/month.

4. Reflectly - this one is a super simple journal, giving you small prompts to clear your mind before bed and establish a sleep routine. Cost: $10/month.

5. There are SO many more - click the button below to be taken to a list of the Best Sleep Apps of 2025 on Forbes.

More Sleep Apps!

Activity 3: Are you Fatigued or Burnt Out?

Fatigue and burnout tend to be used interchangeably, but they have several distinct differences.

Fatigue is a physical symptom that can be helped with ample rest, good nutrition, and exercise.

Burnout is physical, but also mental and psychological - marked by exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy. It will take more than rest to cure burnout.

Here are 2 short quizzes to see which (if either) of these you are experiencing:

Burnout Calculator

Fatigue Calculator

Both calculator pages have advice to help you deal with what you're experiencing.

We won't ask you about your results on the cash-in form!

Just for Fun: Watch a Playthrough!

Absolutely no pressure to watch this, but if you're curious about what the original Moon Patrol looks like, here's a playthrough on Youtube!

Ready to Earn Barry Bucks?

Once you have completed all of the required activities, click the button below to turn in the form to earn your bucks!

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Note: We do not claim to have created Moon Patrol.

Moon Patrol is a registered trademark of Scientific Games.