Ah, the midday slump; that wonderful time somewhere between two and four in the afternoon when your brain says “Do you know what? I’m going to take a little holiday.” There’s a mountain of work to do but you just don’t feel like doing it – what do you do? Before you curl up under your desk for a nap, consider these ways to keep your energy levels going throughout the day, so you don’t have to put your corporate wellness at risk!
1. Start your day better: Having a proper breakfast is important to various aspects of your wellbeing, not least of which being your energy levels. I’m sorry, but a takeaway coffee and a granola bar aren’t going to see you through until quitting time – they won’t even get you to 11am! Giving your body the nutrients it needs at every meal is vital to keep going, as well as preventing a plethora of health concerns, so get up 20 minutes earlier and eat something that will keep you satisfied and give you energy.
2. Snack better: There’s no getting around it; you’re going to be hungry during the day. However, this is where you can utilise the power of healthy snacks to keep your energy levels up. Keep some almonds or fruit in your desk draw or stash carrot sticks and hummus in the fridge, and it will stop you reaching for the sugary snacks that will have you crashing when two o’clock rolls around.
3. Hydrate better: Drinking water really needs to be a habit, as it’s easy to forget how important it is to keep sipping. However, hydrating throughout the day is an absolute must if you want to avoid that midday crash. You might be tempted to give yourself an energy boost with a coffee or fizzy drink, but these beverages only make you more dehydrated, and therefore more tired. Your more likely to drink water if you see it in front of you, so keep a bottle on your desk (going to refill can give you a nice excuse to take a break). If water really doesn’t appeal, try adding a squeeze of lemon or lime, or fill a big jug with water and add cucumber and orange slices.
4. Move better: According to recent studies, sitting for prolonged periods is bad for your wellness, even if you exercise regularly out of office hours. You’re stuck in a chair all day with nothing to get your blood pumping – no wonder you’re exhausted! When it gets to that point where you need to read the same paragraph five times before you understand what it says, get up and take a walk round the office or go down and up the stairs a couple of times. Just a few minutes of movement and a change of scenery will do wonders for your concentration.
5. Do screen time better: Staring at a computer screen all day won’t give you square eyes, but it will mess with your vision as well as your energy levels. Try to look away from your screen as much as possible, and get up and leave it behind if you’re feeling particularly lethargic. Doing a few stretches while you give your eyes a break will help to relax you and de-knot your aching shoulders, neck and back.
6. Manage tasks better: Even if you have a big deadline looming or an infinite number of items on your to-do list, sometimes it’s just necessary to do something new. More often than not, it’s a good idea to finish things before you move on to another task, but when you can’t even keep your eyes open, you’re not exactly working on this task anyway! Put it aside, do something different, and the change will wake you up enough to go back to the boring task later.
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