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 firstaids 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.
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