12 Ways To Beat The Afternoon Slump

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12 Ways to Beat The Afternoon Slump

The clock strikes 1 pm. You can’t stop yawning. Your head hurts from staring at the computer screen. You are counting down the minutes until you can go home for the day.

Does that scenario sound familiar?

Afternoon slumps are real, and they can be a real pain in the butt for those who want their afternoons to be equally as productive as their mornings. They can cause you to lose motivation and creativity and make you feel physically and mentally drained.

It may feel like the afternoon slump is an unavoidable part of your day, but that simply isn’t true! In fact, there are many ways to get over that afternoon slump.

Here are some different tips you can implement today to help you beat the afternoon slump.

How to Beat The Afternoon Slump

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1. Move your body

You probably spend most of your day at a desk in a chair, hardly moving.

No wonder you feel fatigued halfway through the day! Your body might just want to move a little bit.

If you are able to, go for an afternoon walk or schedule your workout in the middle of the day. This will give you a boost of energy to get through the next few hours.

2. Eat a healthy lunch

Do you ever eat a big, filling meal and feel like you need a nap right afterward?

Fueling your body properly can help you feel energized, rather than fatigued.

Choose your lunch wisely, and opt for something with lots of protein and vegetables.

The right food shouldn’t make you feel more tired.

3. Take a 5-minute dancing or stretching break

Need an easy way to move your body?

Dance or stretch it out!

Dancing is a great way to boost your mood AND wake your body up, but you may not be able to bust a move if you are in an office environment. Instead, take a quick stretching break.

Even just a few minutes can get the blood flowing and help you reset before diving back into work.

Check out: Yoga with Adriene’s Office Break Yoga & Stretches Playlist

4. Have a reasonable amount of caffeine in the morning

You don’t need to cut caffeine out cold turkey, but take a look at how much caffeine you actually have each morning.

If you downing three cups of coffee by 11 am, then your afternoon slump is probably due to your caffeine crash.

Instead, try sticking with just one cup in the morning. If you need a quick afternoon pick-me-up, you could have another cup then.

5. Save your favorite or easiest tasks for the afternoon

Part of getting over your afternoon slump is preparing for it.

If you know you are going to be less productive in the afternoon, then don’t save the tasks that require the most concentration for then.

Instead, do your hardest tasks first in the morning, and save the easier ones for the afternoon. 

Related Reads:
• How to Create a Workspace That Fuels Productivity
• 12 Ways to Reduce Stress and Feel Calmer

6. Take a real lunch break away from your screen

Have you ever gotten a headache from looking at your computer screen too much? We all probably have, and it usually hits sometime in the afternoon.

Our eyes need to take a break from the screen, even if that break is brief.

Eat your lunch away from your computer with your coworkers or in the kitchen with a book.

7. Stay hydrated

Did you know dehydration can actually make you pretty sleepy?

If you are not drinking water throughout the morning, then you might hit a wall come afternoon.

Take note of how much water you drink throughout the day, and try to have a glass of water on your desk at all times. If you are drinking coffee, then you should be even more aware of how much water you drink.

8. Go outside for some fresh air

Getting some fresh air and looking up at the blue in the sky can make you feel more awake, and it might just be the quick break you need to beat the afternoon slump.

Step outside on your balcony for a few moments or go for a short walk around the building.

Eat your lunch outside if you can or go for a midday run.

The fresh air will help you wake up and feel more energized as you wrap up your day.

9. Take a power nap

Some people don’t like naps or struggle to nap, and that is okay.

For others, a power nap (10-30 minutes long) can be reviving.

Lay down for a few minutes and set an alarm (so you don’t ACTUALLY sleep the day away) for yourself. You can use this time as your lunch break or break between meetings.

This will also give your eyes a break from the screen, and you should wake up feeling more refreshed.

10. Listen to some upbeat music

You may just need to blast some music to help yourself wake up and get back into the working groove!

Blast your favorite upbeat music (please, use headphones if you are in an office!).

Choose songs that make you feel happy and alive.

Not only should this help you get out of your slump, but it also can be a great positive mood booster.

11. Sip on some tea

If tea isn’t your thing, you can always reach for some coffee at this time.

However, tea typically contains less caffeine (if any) than coffee and can help you relax and focus.

The tiny boost of caffeine that tea does have will make you feel more alert without giving you the crash that drinking coffee can result in.

Matcha is also a great alternative to coffee! Check out the amazing benefits of matcha.

12. Do some collaborative work

When you are working alone, feeling tired and drained can happen pretty easily.

However, if you are in a vibrant group discussion with others, you are more likely to stay engaged.

If possible, schedule your meetings and collaborative work for the afternoon.

If you are a solopreneur and don’t have others to collaborate with, schedule a virtual or in-person co-working session with fellow business owners. 

Final Thoughts

The afternoon slump can hit all of us, especially if we are not getting enough sleep at night.

However, now you should feel more prepared for when it does hit.

Many of these tips are quick things that can make a huge impact on your energy and productivity levels.

Take what you need from this list, and beat that afternoon slump for good!