You know the feeling. It is a while after lunch and you are sitting at your desk, working. All of a sudden, you realize that you are tired. Not just a little tired, either. The kind of tired where all that you can do is think about how tired you are, and how much you would like to go to sleep right then and there. You are experiencing the afternoon slump, and you are not alone.
What causes the afternoon slump? Afternoon tiredness is a natural part of our circadian rhythms, those daily cycles that are biologically hard-wired into our bodies. Before you throw your hands up in despair, though, it is important to understand that there are things that can make afternoon tiredness worse than it would be if nature were the sole cause of our afternoon drowsiness.
One of the things that exacerbates afternoon drowsiness is overeating at lunchtime. To prevent overeating at lunch, eat breakfast. Not just any breakfast, though. You need a nutritious breakfast that will stick with you until it is time for lunch. Choose lean protein and whole grains instead of sugary pastries. While we are talking about lunch, what you eat at lunch matters too. Certain foods such as rice, pasta, and potatoes cause fluctuations in blood sugar that make you feel drowsy about an hour after eating them. Another factor that contributes to afternoon tiredness is not getting enough sleep at night. This only makes sense, if you do not get enough sleep at night you will feel tired all day the next day and your afternoon slump will feel worse than usual.
Other things that you can do to stay alert through the end of your workday include exercising, staying well hydrated, doing puzzles or other brain teasers, and listening to upbeat music. You don’t have to slog through your afternoon day after day. Try some of these solutions and enjoy increased energy and productivity.