Everybody has those days where between 15:00 and 17:00 the concentration fades and the motivation drops to a low level. This pattern is acutely strange, because studies show that around 15:00 we should have the most energy of the day. Below you can find 9 tips to up lift your spirit and energy, without using extra coffee or red bull! These tips will give you an efficient workday and show how you can avoid the afternoon dip.
1. Take a break
It seems that taking a break will only get you behind work, but research shows that it helps a lot to stay focussed. If you take a break every 52 minutes, you will be more focussed in the hour afterwards and also more productive, you will earn your lost minutes back and feel good.
2. Eat citrus fruits
The smell of citrus fruits helps alertness. It tickles the brain to be on the lookout and therefore you will be more awake and efficient. A good side effect is that it is also healthy and helps you to get vitamin C.
3. Take a walk
Sitting the whole day behind your desk is not motivating and not good for your back and blood circulation. Walk over to the coffee machine, with your colleague or around the building for lunchtime. You will feel better, less stiff and more energetic.
4. A difficult one — turn off your mobile phone
Most people cannot go without any more, but with all the messages you receive your mind is constantly focused on what happens next instead of on your work. If you switch of notifications you will be less distracted and more focussed on other things. If you need it for your job, then this will be less efficient of course.
5. Go outside!
With the summer coming, there is no better way to get energy than to feel the sun on your skin. If possible, go outside during your breaks. The fresh air and sun make you feel better. Besides a health walk, you will also be out of the musty office.
6. Plan a meeting!
Feeling that energy is low, do something where you need to be focussed. So plan meetings or appointments around that time. You have to be sharp to participate, have to walk over and you are among other people. Hitting a lot of birds with one stone. Besides that, when you are back at your desk, there is still time to follow up on anything that needed to be done.
7. Leave your work at the office
With modern days, there is a lot of overlap with work and our lives outside of work. Try to avoid working from home or being busy with various small errands. If you work in the evening, your mind cannot get the rest and distraction it needs. The next day you’ll feel this when arriving back at work. Now sometimes a peak is needed, but finishing your job a bit later at the office, is better than struggling with it all evening and night at home.
8. Take a deep breath
Breathing is done naturally, but not always in the right way. When feeling a bit tired a breathing exercise will give you a new flow of oxygen and a boost in energy. It is important to have the right pose: Sit right up, place one hand on your stomach and one on your chest. When breathing you should feel you stomach going out, but the hand on your breast should be still.
9. Have a small bite to eat
Your body is like an engine, it needs a constant supply of fuel. There for it is important that you do not skip any of the main meals; breakfast and lunch, but sometimes also eat in between. It does not have to be an energy bar; it can also be some fruit, soup or vegetables. It will give you renewed energy and it works fast.
So when you feel that the afternoon is going by slowly, try one or more of the above tips and you will see it helps!
