Avoiding the Afternoon Slump
For most of us, nothing is more reliable than the afternoon slump - that time of the day where we hit a wall, our brain gets fuzzy and our eyelids start drooping. The usual course of action is to head straight to the Keurig or the closest Starbucks. But there are other alternatives.
According to Fitbit, the afternoon slump usually strikes between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., and affects millions of people. What’s more, don’t beat yourself up - it’s most likely related to your body’s natural rhythm. According to experts, afternoon is one of those times of day when there’s a greater need for sleep. Ideally, the afternoon slump would be answered with a short power nap so that the body could rest and repair beyond what it usually does at night. However, if a power nap is not an option - which it probably isn’t for most - Fitbit offers these other antidotes to the afternoon slump (in addition to caffeine!): - Getting a full night’s sleep. The Center for Disease Control recommends getting at least seven hours sleep each night. Unfortunately, most people don’t, and sleep deprivation makes the afternoon slump even worse. - Track your patterns. If you are getting a full night’s sleep, yet still slumping, jot down the time of day when you crash. Then start looking for patterns or triggers that may be contributing factors. - Plan your day around your slump. Make sure you’re doing your most taxing work in the morning, and save more mindless tasks or errand-running for the afternoon slump. Getting up and moving can be just what the doctor ordered. - Get some sun. Getting outside and grabbing some Vitamin D is a great way to refresh and recharge. So if you’re headed to the coffee shop, walk there! |
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