Top ten tips for how to beat the post-lunch energy slump without taking a nap

Chewing gum will keep you more alert That dip in energy that creeps up on us in the afternoon is a common phenomenon – and it’s not our fault. Research shows that we experience a cooling of body temperature between 1pm and 3pm – a sign to our bodies that it’s time to sleep. Sadly, we can’t all take a daytime nap, so here are some ideas on how to re-energise when your body tries to hit the snooze button. Have a phone-free lunch Research published in academic journal Computers in Human Behavior found workers who used phones on lunch breaks to scroll the web and social media were more emotionally tired in the afternoon than those who went phone-free. Our working memory, which handles incoming information, struggles to cope with the volume of traffic that bombards us when we’re online, often leading to overload and anxiety. So have a proper break. Stop procrastinating Putting off a job can be more draining for your brain than actually doing the task as it has to deal with a recurring stream of background worry over getting the task done. Research suggests people who procrastinate have higher levels of stress and lower energy. So if you’re a dilly-dallier and a large piece of work is overwhelming, try dividing it into manageable chunks. Often, once a job is started, you’ll feel motivated to finish. When you’ve done a portion of the job, have a break and a treat. Go ‘swimming’ Standing, dynamic stretches that move multiple areas of the body are great for boosting energy – they raise the heart rate and blood flow, explains Lexie Williamson, author of The Stretching Bible. “Try the ‘Swimming Arms’ stretch,” she says. “Drop your fingertips onto your shoulders and ‘swim’ your arms by making alternate circles […]

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