5 Tips for Re-energizing Your Brain During the Afternoon Sleepiness
Do you find yourself lacking energy towards the afternoon? Most people
have a pronounced dip in the attentiveness and energy levels they experience
in the afternoon of their workday. This is due to the natural biorhythms
and stress of the day. Even though there is a volume of literature on the
benefits of “power-napping,” most organizational cultures frown on the practice.
Here are some alternatives that are quick and easy to restore and re-energize
yourself.
-
Get out of your chair – every 45 to 60 minutes.
Do something different. If you’ve been working on something requiring
mental focus, stand up. This is a good time to review your voice messages,
and perhaps return a call.
- Take the stairs – moving is great for stimulating
blood flow. This could be a good time to deliver things to others in building
if you want to remain productive during this time. Otherwise, go climb a
couple flights of stairs.
- Monitor your lunch intake – food is your only source
of raw energy. Eating a nutritious lunch comprised of lean protein and complex
carbohydrates is just what your brain and body needs to re-energize itself.
Do not skip lunch. Skipping lunch causes havoc for your blood sugar and
results in inability to focus. Do not overeat! One of the reasons for your
afternoon sleepiness is due to your stomach pulling circulation for digestion.
When you munch on your lunch, chew slowly and deliberately. This will not
only help digestion, but also will make your eating a more conscious activity.
Eat the protein first, then the complex carbs. Some research indicates that
eating the protein first aids in the digestive process. I have tried this
myself over the last few years and it seems to work for me. In today’s
diet conscious world carbs have a bad rap. The key is complex carbs, such
as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, etc. Eating complex carbs is part of
all the “low carb” diets. The diet fashion’s attack is
on the simple carbs – cakes, candies, sodas, etc. The insulin reaction
is bad for dieters and for thinkers!
- Watch your breathing – find a quiet place to sit
and watch your breath. Conscious breathing for a few minutes will cause
you to slow down your breath. This will usually result in taking deeper
breaths. Don’t force it. Just watch yourself. As you breathe more
slowly and deeply, you’ll bring a rich source of oxygen to your brain,
clearing your mind and leaving you feeling refreshed. It only takes a few
minutes to restore yourself.
- Listen to music – music is a great stimulator for
the brain. Both hemispheres are engaged when listening. If you’ve
been doing high concentration work, put on some upbeat stimulating music,
then get up and move to it for a few minutes. If you’ve been racing
around all day listen to quieter and slower music to help clear the mind
and refocus.
Click
Here to see some suggested music for concentration
