We all know the dreadful, daunting, unavoidable afternoon slump. We’re all familiar with the feeling of impending doom as we feel our last few drops of energy slowly drain away. Well, just in case you are unfamiliar, or perhaps you know it by another name (the 2pm energy zapper? The 3 o’clock nap? Or maybe you have Googled “why do I always crash at 3pm?”); here is a quick refresher:
Generally “afternoon slump” is a term used to describe the sleepy and sluggish feeling that you may experience in the afternoon, usually between the hours of 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
So, the question remains: what to do? How can we prevent the afternoon slump?
I discussed this with my coworkers, also university students. We all shared what helps us prevent our afternoon slump- to feel less sleep-deprived and fueled by healthier things than caffeine and stress. Below are our top ten ways to make the most out of each day.
You will see from the advice below that there were many opposing views on approaches to napping, caffeine intake, snacking, and more. One thing to keep in mind when considering advice like this: everybody is different. Just because something worked for someone else, does not mean it will work for you. Do not rule out ideas just because they did not work for someone else, because they may end up being the perfect suggestion for you. If one technique does not work for you, try a new one!
Stay away from your bed!
- Some popular advice was to stay at the library (or at school), because the second you go home, you’ll be tempted to crawl into bed, and at that point, we all know that there is no more work being done. Some find it helpful in beating the slump to just stick it out at school or work and just power through the slump!
Okay, maybe don’t stay *that* far from your bed…
- On another note, others find it helpful to lean into the slump and beat it from the inside. My colleague Kira shared that in her sleep psychology class, she learned that naps can help you feel more refreshed in the afternoon. The trick is to only nap for 20-40 minutes, and to do it between 1 and 3pm. If powering through the slump isn’t working for you, a power nap might be your solution.
Avoid caffeine
- Some find it helpful to kick the coffee to the curb. No caffeine means no caffeine crash, and so you can potentially avoid the afternoon slump. Having less caffeine in your system may also help you fall asleep for your afternoon power nap, which may help you feel more refreshed.
Double your caffeine instead
- If avoiding your morning Joe is not an option, then maybe what you need is just more of it. Many of my coworkers found that one more cup of coffee, mid afternoon, is just what they needed to get them out of their afternoon slump. Beat the caffeine crash with more caffeine!
Check out your diet
- Are you eating foods that are prone to making you crash? Try decreasing the carbs and increasing the protein! My colleague Bryan shared that he avoids foods that are high in sugar. Foods that are high in fiber are the perfect snack to avoid the slump.
Check your diet again
- In a last ditch effort to spike your energy, when eating healthy all day has not worked, you can always consume something sugary like candy to spike your blood sugar levels. While some swear it works, this method is not necessarily recommended as sugary food might temporarily spike your energy, but it won’t last.
Rock out a bit
- Another popular suggestion was to use music to wake you up. Some hard rock or high energy music was a fan favorite among my coworkers for snapping you out of your slump.
Don’t get too comfortable
- Don’t get too comfortable and you’ll be less tempted to zone out or fall asleep. Avoid the temptation to change into sweatpants. Open a window, splash cold water on your face, and hard reset your body into waking up. Sit on a chair instead of your bed. If you really want to wake up, a nice run should do it.
Drink water!
- Probably the most popular suggestion was to drink more water. All of my peers have found that drinking more water helps them stay energized during the day.
Stimulate your brain
- Last tip: keep your brain active. If you feel yourself drifting off, try a task that requires a bit of thinking in order to get your brain working again.
If you have any ways to beat the afternoon slump, we would LOVE to hear them! Or if you have any feedback on our suggestions, we would love to know in the comments below!
