The afternoon slump is real, and it can be a real problem for working folks across the country! We’ve all had those days where we can’t seem to pick our heads up from our desks after lunch, and we feel like we’re about to fall asleep. Unfortunately, that energy slump is natural and might continue happening whether you like it or not.
Thankfully, on the other side of things, there are a few easy ways to boost your energy when you’re feeling low! Whether you need a tiny jolt to kick the afternoon slump, a quick and easy jump start on a slow morning, or just a little boost of energy to get through your next meeting, you’re in the right place.
We’ve put together a short list of the three best ways you can boost your energy, from the quick fix of caffeine to some easy lifestyle changes designed to bump up your alertness throughout the day. If you’re looking for a way to finally get back into your groove, keep reading!
Walk it Off
Energy slumps can happen for various reasons, but one of the most common is a lack of movement. Even after a productive morning of answering emails and knocking tasks out of the park, it can feel disappointing to return to your desk after lunch feeling tired and irritable. Before you give into that terrifying energy drain, you might want to try taking a quick walk around the block.
Taking a short walk in the middle of the day is an easy way to break out of a quick slump, but this recommendation involves a few additional factors that can help you find some natural energy in the middle of the day.
To begin, try to take a walk outside when possible. Movement on its own can help wake up the brain and get your blood pumping, but being outside can increase those effects! Getting a breath of fresh air in the middle of the day might just push you over the top and through the rest of the day.
If you simply can’t get outside in the middle of the day, try adding some stretching or light exercise to your break. Getting your blood pumping at a higher rate than average can kickstart helpful chemicals in your brain, like endorphins! Endorphins are chemicals that help your brain reduce stress and produce positive feelings in the body. A quick workout in the middle of the day can give your body a superb reset.
Sleep Tight
If you’ve tried taking a midday walk and still feel tired afterward, there are some other steps you can take. It can be challenging to boost your energy when you’re tired, so it might be worth a trip to the source of the problem; your sleep schedule. You’re not alone; lousy sleep habits are among the most common reasons for people’s drowsiness during the day.
The good news is that there are some quick and easy steps you can take to put yourself back on track in dreamland.
First things first, try to determine how much sleep you’re actually getting during the night. If you are falling short of the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep, start going to bed a little bit earlier each night until you find yourself back in a healthy time range of sleep. If your energy levels are still drooping after a hearty 8-hour sleep, you should check out your bedtime habits next.
Before you go to bed, you can make things difficult for yourself by staring at screens, sleeping with too much light around you, or eating too close to bedtime! All of these habits can contribute to difficulty sleeping, so try to wrangle your screens, block out the streetlight, and eat dinner earlier.
If you’re a coffee drinker, make sure you cut out your coffee a few hours before bedtime! If you’re worried about how long coffee energy lasts, make sure you keep some coffee for yourself during the day but put it away after lunch. If you’ve followed all of these steps, see if you notice increased energy throughout the day!
Your sleep habits also include how you wake up! Though it might seem a little cliche, you might want to try splashing some cold water on your face to get the morning going. When humans come in contact with cold water, we get a quick boost of norepinephrine, another chemical that helps with alertness and focus, making cold water a surprisingly effective, natural way to boost energy.
The Cheat Code: Cold Brew
Now that you’ve tried getting active and you’ve fixed your sleeping habits, you’re well on your way to kicking that energy slump to the curb. If you’re looking for the perfect way to beat the “afternoon sleepies,” a well-timed coffee break can tip the scales.
The stimulating effects of caffeine depend significantly on the amount of caffeine in a drink, and a cup of coffee after lunch might turn on your energy boosters for a little bit. However, to get the full caffeine kick, you should consider cold brew coffee.
Now, you might be asking, “Exactly how much caffeine is in cold brew coffee?” To that, we say...well, it’s tricky. Indeed, plenty of factors can go into cold brew, but the average coffee shop cold brew will be stronger than a regular coffee!
However, if you don’t want to go to the coffee shop, bring some ready-made cold brew with you to the office. At High Brew, our Cold Brews come ready to drink, with caffeine levels ranging from 125mg to 230mg to break even the most severe caffeine tolerance.
The coffee to water ratio is much higher than that of iced coffee, and because the coffee is extracted over time, instead of with heat, cold brew coffee is much less acidic than the dusty drip coffee maker in your office lunchroom.
High Brew
We believe in the power of cold brew, and we’re excited to share that power with you! Our specialty cold brew is the perfect solution for anyone on the go or looking for a tasty pick-me-up. We take pride in making a smooth, naturally caffeinated drink for everyone that’s ready to give you the perfect boost you need!
