Quick Energy Boosters When You're Facing an Afternoon Slump

Do you find yourself struggling to concentrate as the afternoon wears on?  Does your energy seem to drain away as the hours pass?

It's easy to reach for a cup of coffee, or something sweet, when you're trying to increase your energy level and stay alert. While coffee or a sweet treat might help, the lift is often temporary.  A few hours later, you may find yourself experiencing an energy crash and feeling even worse than before.  Ultimately, you don't want to become reliant on ever-increasing amounts of coffee and sugar to get through the day.

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Here are five natural and healthy energy boosters, for those days when you're facing an afternoon slump.

 
1. Move your body and stretch.

Sitting all day and starting to feel drowsy?  Stand up and move your body!  

Let go of the notion that anything less than a full workout won't make a difference.  Standing up, moving around, and stretching for a few minutes will boost your energy and your mood.  Take your time, and enjoy how good it feels to stretch your arms up and back.  Twist from side to side.  Walk across the room to loosen up the muscles in your legs that have been tightening up while you've been sitting.  Your body and mind will both feel noticeably better by the time you sit back down. 
 

2. Drink a glass of lemon water.

You can quickly find yourself feeling tired and foggy if you're not getting enough water.  Dehydration can also make you more prone to tension headaches.  Simply drinking a glass of water can increase your energy level and help you to feel more clear-headed.  Boost the effects by adding in the juice of half a lemon.  That zingy tartness is sure to wake you up, and it supports liver health.
 

3. Get out for some fresh air and open some windows while you're inside.

If your days are spent breathing in stale indoor air, you may find yourself facing an afternoon energy slump on a regular basis.  Get outside and start breathing in some fresh air, and you'll feel the difference immediately.  It's also a good idea to open some windows while you're inside, to generate some air flow.  This is all the more important if you're not able to get outside regularly.   
 

4. Snack on some grapes.
 
Grapes are sweet, refreshing, easy to digest, and high in water content.  All of which makes them the perfect snack when you're looking for a quick pick-me-up.  They'll give you a lift, but the sugar in grapes is natural and balanced, so you won't experience a sugar crash afterwards.  As an added bonus, you'll be getting healthy dose of vitamins (A and K in particular) and antioxidants, too.
 
 
5. Take a power nap.

If you're feeling low in energy because you're physically tired, a quick power nap can work wonders.  Just 15 or 20 minutes of uninterrupted rest can provide huge benefits.  But keep it short; you don't want to doze off for so long that you wake up groggy or throw off your nighttime sleep routine. 


Image Credit:  Marc Thele from Pixabay