Wake up! 5 ways to beat post-lunch slump

Active! lets you in on sure-fire ways to boost energy levels in the workplace

It's hard to beat the urge to collapse into the nearest sofa when the mid-afternoon slump threatens to take over. Overcome post-lunch drowsiness with these practical tips and, no, none of them involve keeping your eyelids open with toothpicks!'



Get a head start
Avoid waking up late and scrambling to work. Instead, go to bed early, wake up early, and at the same time each day. On waking up, immediately try and expose yourself to sunlight. This will help the circadian rhythms of your body, which are regulated by your master body clock, and in turn keep you energised through the day. 

Drink lots of water
How many of us really drink as much water as we need to? Drinking too many fizzy and sugary drinks can lead to bloating, and eventual fluctuations in insulin levels, which contribute to feelings of lethargy. Close substitutes for water are fruits with a high water concentration, like watermelon and muskmelon. 

Watch what you eat
What you eat at lunch will have a huge impact on how badly you want to take an afternoon nap. Avoid fast foods and processed foods, which are packed with fats and preservatives. It will only bring you down in the afternoon. Also avoid dessert, as sugar and flour are energy slump inducers. Stick to eating low-carb, high-protein food, which include sprouts, green veggies like avocados, cucumbers, broccoli and beans. Nuts, soyabeans and whole grains are also good.

Drink coffee through the day
The trick to getting the most out of a caffeine rush is by drinking less coffee in the morning, and over a longer period of time. According to James K Wyatt, PhD, Director of the Sleep Disorders Service and Research Center at Rush University Medical Center, drinking coffee in the afternoon will not only give you energy, but it will also block adenosine, a chemical in the brain that induces drowsiness and often accumulates in the afternoon.

Take a walk
According to research a 15 to 20 minute walk just when the eyelids are letting you down, can boost energy levels instanelt. Low-impact exercise can curb fatigue levels. So even if that means walking around the office corridor or around cubicles, as that famous tagline goes, just do it.