Nope, it’s not just you. It’s a biological thing – and you can actually do something about it without getting another cup of coffee.
That seemingly inevitable drop of energy felt every afternoon is not just your imagination. That’s actually a biological preset that can tempt you to stop doing everything because you feel extremely tired, sluggish, or groggy.
While slumps can occur at different times of the day, depending on your working cycle, most commonly it happens in between the most unholy hours of the regular working day: between one to four in the afternoon. Aside from feeling exhausted, your brain can also feel a bit of brain fog.
When this happens, what do you actually do? Do you get another cup of coffee (probably your fourth or fifth for the day) or can you choose a healthier alternative?
5 Ways to Fight that Afternoon Productivity Slump
Living in an urban city that breathes progress and development, like Singapore, it can totally get draining to accomplish all tasks in a single day. While companies often give opportunities for employees to take breaks, we all know how work demands can pile up if we take too much of our time distressing.
Now, if you want to fight that dreaded afternoon productivity slump, here are some simple and conscious ways that you can do:
- Get a good night’s sleep.
While there are numerous contributing factors to look into, one of the most common reasons why you’re feeling that afternoon slump is because you have disrupted your sleep cycle. Lack of sleep does not only make you feel restless, it also affects your mood and causes your energy to decline in the afternoon.
According to sleep experts, stressed adults may even need at least nine hours of sleep to beat the afternoon slump. But aiming for at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep at night can greatly help address that afternoon slump that you are feeling.
- Allow your brain to take a break.
In the same way that you allow your muscles to rest after hours in the gym, you must also give your brain the break it deserves. To some, going outdoors may be effective. Others go for a quick run or cycle. Or you can also opt to go for meditation or a walk. Anything that can help your brain relax and take some time off your screen, emails, calls, including social media.
- Stay hydrated.
One of the easiest ways to fight that afternoon slack is not getting another cup of coffee or eating sweets. While these can provide the much-needed boost, this quick fix may lead to another blood sugar dip which will leave you even more tired and hungrier. Drinking water can help address your fatigue and help you feel more energetic.
- Listen to relaxing music.
It’s actually easier to get back to work when you are in a more positive disposition. One way to do this is to keep your favorite tracks at hand. Revive your energy by listening to some relaxing music or get that upbeat hit before you resume work. This way, you get every single cell of your body moving and you can feel a little more positive as you do your afternoon work.
- Practice deep breathing.
This might not be a common practice but knowing how to properly breathe can greatly help destress and boost productivity. Deep breathing allows your body to fully exchange incoming oxygen with the outgoing carbon dioxide. Doing this helps slow your overly exhausted heartbeat, stabilize your blood pressure, and lower the stress that you have been struggling with on a daily basis. Research also shows that this practice can have an overall effect on the brain as it stimulates the vagus nerve – which is responsible for turning off that “fight or flight” reflex have been accustomed to.
Always remember that you control yourself. If you have been struggling with this afternoon slump, don’t just let it get you. Learn to shift your mind and focus on what really matters. Channel your energy into what’s beneficial and important at the moment. Again, you can’t control everything that comes into your life. But you can always control how you handle them. You can do it!
Cover image by: Inc
