Covid fatigue, a feeling of emotional exhaustion, has become a common complaint of people across the nation right now. Now, in the face of Covid fatigue, add the mid-afternoon energy slump and one could feel their eyes already drooping, their drive to get on with the day slowly fading.

The energy crash, although natural, that you experience around 2-3 pm after having a meal hits differently. It kills your motivation to work, eats into your overall productivity, and makes you want to hit the bed while the sun still shines bright outside.

But, the good news is that it’s fixable.

As I dread the afternoon energy crash and gear up after taking a quick ten minute walk to finish this article by 3 pm, let us together look at 7 simple ways to shake off the sluggishness of afternoon slump.

Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate

Just in case mentioning ‘hydration’ once isn’t enough to remind you to have water throughout the day, we put three.

When it comes to keeping yourselves hydrated, there is no substitute for water. Dehydration often adds to fatigue and hence it’s imperative to have enough water during the afternoon.

If you find regular water boring, try making detox water using sliced cucumber, lemon, fruits, and herbs to switch things up.

And if looking for some hot options, a subtle spicy kick of a cup of herbal tea would be equally good enough to bring back that motivation to work. 

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Grab A Quick Healthy Snack

Give your body a boost of energy with a quick bite of a healthy snack. 

While something sugary and processed may sound tempting and easy, it would be best that you keep from it and consider something rich in protein.

Pick something that’s natural or minimally processed like yogurt, a cheese cube, a handful of nuts, or a spoonful of the ever-classic combination of chocolate and peanut butter, that will satiate your cravings and keep your energy levels high. 

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Make Yourself A Cup Of Tea

Making yourself a cup of tea is an immersive ritual and a great way to step away from work and reset. 

The process of brewing keeps you active, alert and allows a chance to indulge in the aroma therapy of varied flavours, herbs, and spices. 

It is also advisable to have a cup of tea half an hour after having your meal to kick away the sluggishness and keep you wide-eyed. Go for green tea, herbal options or stick to the classic Masala chai to perk your mood up.

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Stretch & Get Moving

Indulging in mild exercising and stretching is the quickest way to boost your energy. Getting your blood pumping also activates your mind.

Practice stretching to relax your muscles, take a brisk walk, or get on a call with a colleague to discuss the tasks at hand for the week. 

You can also simply turn up the volume, plug in the air dopes, put on your go-to dance song and do a quick jig to uplift your mood and energy.

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Step Outside & Take Time Off Screen

Give your eyes a break, and step outside in an open space for a bit to expose yourself to the sunlight. 

Exposing yourself to the sun will tell your internal clock that it’s still day-time, prepare your mind to align with your body clock and the energy slump will slowly fade away.

Also, try splashing cold water on your face or simply spray some rose water to press that refresh button.

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Prioritise Your Tasks

If an energy slump in the afternoon is a pattern with you, try to utilise that time for tasks that require less mind and energy.

Finish the most creative tasks that require high-energy in the morning and keep the afternoon for tasks that are more mechanical like sending out mails, updating the daily sheets, checking official groups etc. 

You can also use this time to plan the second half of your day.

Take A Catnap

And if the energy crash makes you feel like you must sleep, then by all means you should. Many people find a quick nap helpful to replenish the energy and get on with the remaining day better. 

But, remember to keep it short, an ideal nap time should be 20 minutes, and set an alarm because you don’t want to wake up feeling groggy with your boss’ call.

The Bottomline 

An afternoon energy slump is only natural and has got to do with our circadian rhythm (sleep-wake) cycle that roughly repeats every 24 hours, so don’t blame yourself for feeling a sense of low energy. 

Just follow these simple steps to put yourself back on track, without feeling guilty. 

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