Are you one of the 60 percent of Americans who feels tired by the time the afternoon rolls around? If so, you know how hard it can be. Your work performance suffers, you can’t think clearly and all you want to do is go home and relax. Unfortunately, most people can’t just leave work in the middle of the day. When you’re feeling sluggish, however, there are some things you can do to perk yourself up again naturally.
Eat a Nutritious Snack
A variety of situations can cause you to feel tired in the afternoon. Sometimes, it’s because your body needs more fuel to run on. If you tend to skip breakfast or get your morning perkiness from sugary coffee and pastries, you get a rush of energy that only carries you through the first several hours of your day. By mid-afternoon, your blood sugar has crashed and you feel drained. This is your body’s signal that you need more food. The best option is to choose a healthy, nutrient-rich snack like nuts and seeds, dried fruit, yogurt or beef jerky. The protein, fat and carbohydrates they contain will provide you with sustained energy for the rest of the day.
Use Natural Supplements
Sometimes a light snack just won’t cut it when you’re feeling really tired. When this happens, you need something more potent. There are a variety of natural energy supplements like those from Nature’s Energy that can help give you the pick-me-up you need. Guarana is one popular option, and many people find that it doesn’t give them the jitters the way that caffeine can. Some other great options include green tea concentrate, ephedra and ginseng. These supplements boost energy gently and naturally as well as provide antioxidants.
Take a Power Nap
Of course, nothing helps restore energy like good old sleep. The best part is that you don’t even need to sleep deeply or for very long. When you’re on your afternoon break, try taking a quick 15 minute nap. Even if you don’t fall asleep completely, this short rest is often enough to make you feel good as new.
Move Around
Spending all day sitting in one place also has a way of making you feel tired. The best solution is to get up and move around. This will help loosen up muscles and joints that are stiff from hours of disuse. Furthermore, physical activity dramatically increases the flow of blood to the brain, which helps you work more efficiently and improves your ability to focus and think clearly.
Don’t let that 2:30 feeling ruin your day. The next time you’re running on empty, reach for a natural solution. By trying some of the tips above, you can reclaim your lost energy and finish the day with a smile on your face.
*Our content is not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis of individual problems or circumstances, nor should it be implied that we are a substitute for professional medical advice. Users / readers are always advised to consult their Healthcare Professional prior to starting any new remedy, therapy or treatment. Your Wellness Group accepts no liability in the event you, a user of n-gage and a reader of this article, suffers a loss as a result of reliance upon or inappropriate application of the information.