Afternoon Energy Boosting Habits
With the exemption of employees of tech companies and advertising agencies with nap pods in the break room, an afternoon siesta most likely isn’t part of your daily schedule. If you're someone who yawns their way to 5 o'clock every day, you have two options:
(1) Learn some simple ways to amplify your afternoon energy or
(2) Move to Spain (or Silicon Valley)
Ruled out relocation to Madrid? Here are six ways to stay alert at work when all you want to do is pull a George Constanza with an under your desk snooze.
Take it Outside
Leaving your workplace is one of the best ways to break out of your post-lunch funk and boost energy levels. Something as simple as a 20-minute walk will get your mind off spreadsheets and provide an engaging change of scenery.
When possible, walk outside so the natural light can signal your brain it’s "awake" time and not "secretly build a bed out of replacement mop heads in the storage room" time. The switch to sunlight will also give your system a shot of serotonin, providing as much energy as you'd get from a cup of coffee.
You don't need a nearby trail, track, or shopping mall to get in a good walk, either. Climbing the stairs a few times can get your blood pumping enough to push you through the rest of the afternoon.
Catch Some Om’s
Yoga Nidra and other non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) exercises are a powerful way to regain your energy in the afternoon. The practice of NSDR takes…well…practice. Master this form of mega-meditation and you can expertly deploy it day or night to give your entire body a lift.
If you're interested in giving NSDR a try, consider starting with a free online course. Checkout popular websites and apps like Insight Timer or YouTube for guided yoga Nidra lessons.
Take a (Deep) Breath
Deep breathing is a simple route to boost energy in afternoon meetings, sales calls, and customer interactions. When you focus on your breath and really fill up your lungs, it improves oxygenation and blood flow from head to toe. At the same time, it slows down your heart rate and keeps the production of stress hormones in check.
There are many established breathing exercises to choose from, such as five-finger breathing or 4-7-8 breathing. But any kind of focused, intentional and deep breathing — even if it's just for a minute — can give your consciousness a pleasant kick in the pants. Be sure to check out the Breathe app on your Apple Watch for a quick deep breathing sesh.
Pump Up the Jams
Stuck in a slump? Turn up the volume on your afternoon. Listening to up-tempo tunes increases your heart rate and releases endorphins in your brain. Endorphins are chemicals produced by your nervous system providing natural pain relief and improving your overall wellbeing, including amplifying energy.
If all that isn't enough reason to crank up your favorite Spotify playlist after lunch, endorphins also reduce anxiety, stress, and depression symptoms as well as improve self-confidence and help regulate appetite. Just don't forget the headphones.
Drink Plenty of H-2-Oh-Yeah
Staying hydrated is fundamental to avoiding a 2 p.m. crash, literally and figuratively. Go without hydration, and you're looking at headaches, a dry mouth (and the bad breath that accompanies it), irritability, and feeling super-sluggish. Keep your forehead off your desk by making sure you get enough to drink. Check out the Water Llama app to keep track of your water intake (and earn a llama!).
And, if sometimes you like to mix it up a bit, hydration can come from more than just water. To keep your health kick in check, stick to low-calorie options when you're thirsty for something other than classic H20:
- Sparkling water
- Diet soda
- Tea
- Coffee
- Coconut water
- Zero-calorie flavored water, such as Vitamin Water Zero or Sobe
Out With the Old
Sometimes, the best way to amplify your energy is to give your entire body a reboot. Detoxify's line of herbal cleanses create and support healthy, sustained energy thanks to two powerful herbal ingredients: guarana seed extract, which is a natural source of caffeine, and American ginseng root extract, which supports long-lasting energy.
Got a busy schedule? A Detoxify cleanse is a brilliant option. Virtually everyone has the time to shake up a fruit-flavored detox drink and chase it with an XL water, especially if they are eager to discover how to boost energy without caffeine in a sustainable way.
Herbal Cleansing with a Side of Zen Shop XXtra Clean
Nobody feels energetic 24/7. If you catch yourself yawning all afternoon and struggling to keep your eyes open until the end of your workday, consider picking up one of these energy-boosting habits. Staying awake until quitting time shouldn't feel impossible.
