Ways to Work Through the Afternoon Slump

The three o’ clock hour hits. Just two hours left of work to meet a pressing deadline and meet with an unsatisfied client. Or maybe you’ve been running errands all days, picking up the house, and preparing for a family weekend getaway and didn’t make time for lunch. You can make it, if you have a little pick me up of sugar and caffeine. A short walk to the vending machine or drive through Starbuck’s will cure that!
The afternoon slump can be a hard thing to get past and for many people a frequent cause for slipping up with healthy eating. Even if you eat balanced healthy meals the rest of the day, the mid-afternoon splurge can sabotage goals and create a cycle of needing a jolt every day. Sure, you get a surge in energy from a soda and candy bar or yummy coffee drink and pastry but it’s short-lived and may leave you feeling even more drained a few hours later. Here are a few tips on how to make it through the afternoon slump to finish your day strong:
1. Eat a well-balanced breakfast with fiber and protein – How does eating breakfast affect your energy in the afternoon? Quite a bit, actually. People who eat a solid breakfast have more consistent energy levels throughout the day and are less hungry later in the day. Oatmeal with nuts and berries, an egg with whole grain toast, or Greek yogurt sprinkled chopped almonds and fruit are a few breakfast options to keep you going.
2. Break for lunch Going long periods of time without eating makes it hard for even the most disciplined eater to make healthy choices. Skipping lunch or going more than six hours (less for some people) without eating leads to a drop in blood sugar and energy, which makes your body want to grab anything available that has quick energy, usually in the form of refined carbs like candy, sweets, chips, and soda.