Way to beat the afternoon slump
1: Start right
Oddly, your mid-afternoon slump can be the result of what you get up to in the
morning. If you didn’t make time for breakfast then you will be more likely to
feel sleepy during the latter stages of you work day. Make sure you eat a
breakfast that is full of protein and wholegrains, such as scrambled eggs on
wholegrain toast, porridge with almonds and apple or a fresh, fruit smoothie. If
you don’t have much time in the morning or don’t feel like eating first thing
you could always have a breakfast you can eat on the move, such as a wholegrain
bagel filled with reduced fat cream cheese and salmon or make a little pot of
fruit, natural yoghurt, honey and almonds.
Way to beat the afternoon slump 2: Put down the chips
Carbs and fat fuel the afternoon slump. If you love to eat chips or sandwiches
as big as houses then your energy levels will plummet come mid-afternoon.
However, you don’t need to cut out carbohydrates and fat altogether to avoid the
slump and can instead simply reduce your portions. For example, you should eat
no more than a fist-sized helping of your favourite carbohydrate and limit your
fat intake. This is because fat takes a long time to digest and leaves you
feeling overly full and consequently rather sluggish. So you could eat a salad
with egg, turkey or some chickpeas. Other good, slump-fighting lunches include
wholewheat pasta or rice, served with a tomato and olive oil sauce with some
salad, or some chicken soup for chilly days.
Way to beat the afternoon slump 3: Take a break
Your boss may not agree, but you need to take a break. Studies have found that
taking regular breaks does in fact lead to increased productivity when at work
and taking between five to 15 minutes can really help to combat your afternoon
slump. Try to get up and walk around at least once every hour throughout the
day. Then, during your break do a few stretches and take a few deep breaths to
invigorate and refresh you and your body. When you return to your desk you
should feel much more alert and you can wave goodbye to that slump.
Way to beat the afternoon slump 4: Grab a glass
When you’ve got a lot on it can be easy to forget to drink, but your afternoon
slump might be caused by a lack of water. Dehydration can make you feel tired,
so when you next feel the yawns and the fuzzy thinking associated with the
afternoon slump creep in, go grab yourself a glass and get yourself some cold,
fresh water. If you don’t really like the taste of water, you could add some
lemon juice to the water. This makes a really zingy, refreshing drink that will
wake you up instantly. Alternatively you could soak some pineapple chunks in a
jug of water at lunch and then when your slump hits pour a glass of your
pineapple-infused drink.
Way to beat the afternoon slump 5: Use your head
When an afternoon slump strikes the last thing you want to do is engage your
brain. However, do a fun, quick task and give those brain cells a blast. Do a
puzzle, a series of mental arithmetic questions or try to write a rhyming poem
or limerick. Crosswords, lateral thinking puzzles or even a quick game of snap
with cards can help you beat the afternoon slump. Playing a game with others is
best, but if you’re at work just quietly take five minutes to do one of these
tasks. Engaging your brain in an activity like this will rouse your slacking
concentration levels and reengage you in whatever activity you need to be
focused on.