There are healthier ways to become active and overcome the 3 pm slump.
When you get that sleepy mood, don't go direct to the coffee pot. Get up from your seat and walk around or walk outside for some time. The bit of exercise of getting up from the seat, moving around and enjoying the change of scenery helps you become active.
You can avoid the 3 pm slump by planning your errands during that part of the day.
Laugh a bit
If you have no time to get out for a few minutes, move away from your desk, have a chat and cut joke with your colleagues; and laugh heartily. Laughing is a good remedy for work-slump, say experts.
Desk yoga
To fight out the 3 pm yawing, do a sort of yoga at your desk, suggests a yoga guru. You need not move away from your desk. Sit there and raise your hands straight up above your head. Flap your hands fast. Breathe in and out quickly. Do this as long as you can or till you are out of that slump.
Eating habits
The diet you take makes all the difference in your mood and energy levels throughout the work day. Have a good breakfast that boosts your concentration and energy. You can fix your mood with food. You can control your blood sugar levels with complex carbohydrates; shun refined carbohydrates such as white bread and white sugar. These refined carbohydrates cause spikes and dips in your blood sugar levels.
Breakfast: A right mix of complex carbohydrates gives your brain and muscles a steady flow of energy they need. For a power packed breakfast, go for natural whole-grain breads and cereals with a low fat protein added, such as yogurt, cottage cheese or skim milk.
Lunch: Lunch should be low in carbohydrates. It should include low-fat cheese, fish, lean meat or poultry. Dieticians say carbs increase the amount of serotonin in the brain causing a feeling of sleepiness. Proteins raise energy levels by increasing brain chemicals known as catecholamines.
Snacks: Snacks push up plummeting energy levels. Eating every few hours helps your body use its fuel efficiently, stimulate metabolism and keep the energy flow constantly. This can happen only you pick up the right kind of snack. For midday snack, take fruits and vegetables that have simple sugars that will keep energy at correct level. Lean protein, like low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, lean meat or peanut butter with a few crackers, goes well for late-afternoon snack.
