I hate afternoon crashes! Sometimes I hit the wall so hard on the drive home from work I can barely keep my eyes open. Medication management alone is not enough to combat hitting the wall. It takes multiple devices to try and stay balanced.
It always a running “joke” wherever I work that my brain doesn’t “check in” until 10:00. I am most productive and focused between about 10-2:00 and by 3-ish tend to be dragging. One way I try to manage it is by not taking my lunch break until after 2:00 when my productive spurt is winding down, but before the fatigue sets in. Taking a later break helps perk me up for the remainder of the day. For lunch I try to minimize carbs for the most part and have something with a decent amount of protein.
I also drink a lot. I don’t drink coffee, and only minimally drink soda, but I do like to use caffeinated water enhancers (Mio, Kroger, or WalMart brands) to help jump start my day. I keep a 24oz. Tervis Tumbler on my desk at work and refill it anywhere from 2-4 times a day depending on what I’m doing. Using a straw helps me get more water in.
I have realized that when I stay very well hydrated, I don’t have as many problems with eye fatigue which in turn contributes to the afternoon crash.
One other technique I employ to help keep me focused is definitely headphones. I only listen in one ear so I am still aware of my surroundings and can hear if someone calls me, but it helps me focus by decreasing external distractions. I alternate between music, podcasts, and documentaries depending on mood.
Of course, I often get home and all I want to do is take a nap on the couch. I am seldom very productive once I get home having expended all my energy at work. On the plus side, I seldom find the need to sneak off to grab a quick cat nap in the lavatory any more!
Being introverted by nature means that if I had a day where I had to lift my head from my spreadsheets and interact a lot with my peers, then the fatigue is heightened from stress/anxiety. I haven’t found a trick for that afternoon slump!
Here are 14 things you can do to minimize or eliminate your afternoon crashes. The more suggestions you implement, the more results you will see!
