Everyone has a natural cycle of sleep and wakefulness. For most people, this means energy in the morning and tiredness in the afternoon. You should plan your day to account for that slump.
Natural Light
Natural light helps guide your circadian rhythms. Being exposed to plentiful natural light can help you feel more awake and improve your mood. If natural light is impossible, research suggests that blue light is closer to sunlight than white or dark.
Organise your Schedule
If you know you are going to feel more tired in the afternoon, you can schedule your day around that. Rather than trying to avoid the slump, make sure that you do the bulk of your work in the morning and save simpler items for the period when you will have less energy.
Be Strategic with your Caffeine
Caffeine can be an energising tool and is hard to resist when you are feeling tired, but you need to be careful when you drink it. Partaking in the afternoon could interfere with your nighttime sleep. A cup late in the morning should still be active when the afternoon comes.
Exercise
It may seem counterintuitive, but exercise can boost your energy levels by stimulating blood flow and encouraging the release of hormones called endorphins. Even a short, brisk walk can help, and it will improve your health in the long term.
Take a Break
Sometimes you can push through a slump, but sometimes you just need a break, maybe even a nap. You could exercise, do chores, listen to music or enjoy office lunch catering such as Crumbs Delivered. Anything to help you refocus so that you return to work refreshed.
Interact With Other People
Sitting on your own just encourages tiredness. Talking to colleagues or calling home can lower stress, improve your mood and help reinvigorate you through the release of oxycontin and dopamine, plus the reduction of cortisol.
Everyone’s a little different when it comes to when they feel most awake and the best methods to boost their energy, but these methods should be beneficial to most people.
