4 Things You Can Do To Avoid The Afternoon Slump

And before you think, no, a cup of coffee is not the solution!

This morning started out great at 9 a.m…. you had a big cup of Americano, feeling ready to conquer the day.

You keep knocking out task after task, when suddenly, right after lunch, it’s about 2:30 p.m. when you begin to lose all your motivation for the day and are ready to doze off.

Can you relate? You’re not alone.

In fact, it’s been scientifically proven that right around lunchtime, generally between 2 and 4 p.m., a dip can happen in your core body temperature, incidentally it’s the same dip that takes place before going to sleep at night.

Usually when this afternoon slump occurs, you just have to toughen up and fight it, because the workload won’t just go down because you want to pass out on your desk.

When we start feeling sleepy and unmotivated, it’s pretty common to turn to quick fixes however they can only last so long. Coffee, cookies or sugary snacks will only give you a temporary “high”, resulting in another crash putting you back in the same cycle sooner rather than later.

Today, we compiled four great tips that you can easily incorporate into everyday life to mitigate fatigue during the day.

Drink Water Consistently

We all know that dehydration can play a big role in reduced brain activity and energy levels. Afterall, it takes up 60% of our bodies, right? Personally, I used to forget to drink water all the time. If you have the same problem, feel free to set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself to have a sip of water every hour or so.

Don’t Skip on Breakfast

According to Dr. David S. Ludwig, a nutrition expert at Harvard-affiliated Children’s Hospital Boston,  when you miss the day’s first meal,  you may start off with an energy deficit and have to tap into your energy reserves. Breakfast is crucial despite what the latest diet fads might say, because it’s the key to jumpstarting our metabolism and providing our bodies with essential nutrients to function properly.

Drink a Delicious Smoothie

Whenever the afternoon slump starts to kick in, a fifth cup of coffee is not the solution you want to opt for. Have you tried drinking a delicious smoothie during your coffee breaks instead? A flavorful smoothie made from all natural or organic ingredients with superfoods can be a great resource for lasting energy. However, you’ll want to avoid those sugar-packed smoothies with artificial ingredients.

I browse quite a bit of health related websites and recently I found out about these freeze-dried smoothies from a company called Smoothie N Go. It doesn’t require a blender or a need to refrigerate. They look very good and don’t compare to anything I’ve ever seen before. If you want to check them out, feel free to do so here.

Have A Breath Of Fresh Air Or Move Around

How long have you been sitting at your desk staring at your computer screen? Hours on end? No wonder you’re exhausted!

According to Sleep.org, staying still for too long might make your body think that you want to go to sleep. I make sure to always stretch or go for a 5-minute walk every two hours or so to avoid feeling tired. As a result, I feel way more energized and alert afterwards and can power through the rest of the day.

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