It’s completely normal to feel dreary eyed once the afternoon rolls around. Circadian rhythms, which affect our sleep patterns, may be to blame for the midday-slump. The afternoon naps our fathers or grandfathers took had some relevance — our “sleep signals” peak at night and during the aapples1fternoon (right around 2pm!), which may explain why we want to close our eyes and get some shut eye. What we eat and drink, and how much time we spend staring at a screen can also affect our energy levels and tired eyes during the afternoon time.
In today’s hectic pace of lifestyle it isn’t possible to take an afternoon snooze so here are some ways to beat the mid-afternoon slump and keep feeling energetic all day long.
Remember breakfast. Without your morning nutrition may lead to an energy crash come 2pm. A healthy breakfast will sustain energy throughout the day.
Eat a small lunch. A heavy stomach will make you feel sleepy. Eat a small but satisfying lunch — choose something with more protein and less carbohydrates, like a salad with grilled chicken or a dal and roti.
Avoid sugar. The sugar-high will only lead to a sugar crash, causing you to feel even sleepier. Stay hydrated. In order to avoid dehydration and its sleepy side effects, just keep sipping. Aim for 3 litres a day — yes that much!
Get enough sleep. It sounds obvious but you need enough sleep at night to ward off afternoon drowsiness.
Exercise. Use your lunch hour to go to the gym. It will boost productivity and ward off sleepiness. If you don’t have time for the gym then go up and down the stairs for 15 minutes.
Step back from the screen. In order to avoid eye strain keep a safe distance from the computer screen — about an arm’s length.
Stretch. Stretching out can provide a quick boost of energy. Just get up and bend, turn side to side, etc. Use your chair as support or as a prop. Loosening up your muscles will keep you fresh.
Move around. A change of scenery may boost productivity, so use a meeting room or go to a coffee shop. Sit by a window for natural light.
Splash some cold water on your face to wake up.
Sip some green tea. With less caffeine than a cup of coffee, a green tea can give us that afternoon pick-me-up without keeping you awake at night.
Have a snack. A crunchy apple, cheese, a handful of nuts, or a low fat lassi are snacks that will keep you alert.
Try a walking meeting. Take that meeting outside and walk and talk.
Take a break and do something besides work (like calling a friend or doing a suduko) in order to give your mind a break.
Listen to music. Listening to some favorite music might help you focus and feel more energized.
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