Are you aware :: what the afternoon slump actually is?

Nap anyone?

You know, that desire to crawl into bed in our work clothes anywhere from 1PM to 4PM.

It is our body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm) signaling a period of sleepiness/decreased alertness in the afternoon.

Nerd tip :: we are genetically hardwired for a preprogrammed dip in our afternoon alertness, also referred to as postprandial.

When we couple our body’s natural biology with a meal, there’s no surprise the nosedive in energy occurs.

Pro tip :: kick off your AM with work that requires deep focus;

this is when both cortisol + blood pressure are high - best supporting our productivity.

So, with afternoon fatigue being inevitable - what can we do to not feel like such a (cute!!) sloth?

• take a break :: unplug completely from technology

• move our body >> get outside if feasible

  fresh air + natural sunlight boost our body and mind

• turn on some tunes

…& you know I love talking about food!

• chewing (on the right foods) can help increase blood flow to our brains and provide that quick energy boost!

Specifically…

• stay hydrated 

(skip the caffeine and go for some h2o)

• high fiber + protein to help curb sweet cravings // that can come when feeling sleepy

(think :: apple with nut butter) 

• foods with vitamin B6 - helps our body create and use energy 

(think :: chickpeas - hummus w/ veggies, anyone?!)

• low GI foods helping balance blood sugar levels 

(think :: legumes, green veggies, raw carrots)

Give any number of these a try … see how you feel in support of living better!!