We’ve all experienced it – that feeling of drowsiness that starts to creep in after lunch and you realize you still have half your day to go. What’s even worse is when you’ve hit a slump with your job and it starts to happen every day. Everyone always wants to perform their best, but sometimes our bodies work against that.
So, what can you do? Coffee is the go-to answer for many, but eventually your body adjusts to the caffeine and it takes more and more to even stave off headaches. Fortunately, there are other healthy and more effective methods to avoid the midday slump without resorting to sugary energy drinks.
1. Get moving
There are a couple of ways that moving around could help you out. First, a mid-day trip to the gym could benefit more than you realize. We’re not talking about a full-on routine, but many people enjoy engaging in some light aerobic exercise to get the blood pumping a bit and keep their body alert.
Changing locations can help reset your brain as well. If you’re fortunate enough to be able to take your work anywhere, we encourage you to take advantage of it. Take a trip to your local coffee shop or library, or even grab your laptop and simply change rooms. The fresh space can work to make you more alert instead of sitting in the same space all day.
2. Eyes feeling heavy? It could be your screen
This one can be a little more difficult for people whose jobs revolve around staring at a screen all day, but it turns out that eye-fatigue could be simulating sleepiness. We encourage frequent breaks from your screen to reduce the effects.
3. A healthy snack could do the trick
While you may not be hungry enough for a full meal, or if you’re cutting back for a diet, it’s still important to consider that you may not be getting enough calories to provide your body with the crucial energy it needs.
While we know that it’s tempting to make a quick trip to the snack machine, it’s entirely possible to have a satisfying snack that provides you with good nutrition while still tasting great. We recommend high-protein snacks such as nuts to stave off low energy. At Blue Ocean, we combine snacks with energy in mind. We offer a mixture of salty and sweet snacks like gourmet nuts, chocolate covered pretzels, Swedish fish, and other fun treats.
4. You may just need to switch focus
Our brains aren’t always capable of focusing on a singular task for hours on end. When we get bored, we start to get tired. While meeting deadlines is important, you could actually be working against yourself by keeping your nose to the grindstone.
If possible, plan your days to spread out time between different tasks. The new challenges each task brings will help keep your brain active and engaged, and you may find an increase in overall productivity!
5. Make sure to bring headphones
Noise-isolating headphones are fantastic for helping you hone in your focus. They create a barrier between you and the constant distractions of busy environments (especially if you like to work in coffee shops). But if you pick energetic music, you may find yourself becoming more energetic as well! Tastes obviously vary greatly from person to person, but it’s easier than ever to find music that will suit the situation and help reign you in for the task at hand.
At Blue Ocean, we’re dedicated to providing you with a creative space that helps your whole team beat the afternoon slump. We have natural-light filled rooms, lively décor and much more. Give us a call to learn more!
