It’s coming. You can feel it. You’re trying desperately to will it away, but, inevitably the clock strikes 3:00pm. Suddenly, you are exhausted. The thought of typing letters on the computer keyboard seems like a daunting task, not to mention you can barely keep your eyes open.
Or, you’re driving to pick the kids up from school and you can feel your eyelids getting heavy. You pull up and see kids pouring out of the classrooms, full of energy, and just know you’re not going to be able to keep up with them this afternoon. Their endless enthusiasm is a stark contrast to your waning energy. You know this is the time of day you need to feel at the top of your game, yet you’re already counting the hours until bedtime.
What happens next is predictable. Almost unwillingly, you find yourself seeking out sugar, carbs and/or coffee. You look for something sweet from the stash at the office, swing by Starbucks, or grab a bar or drink with the word “ENERGY” on the label.
I have totally been there! I used to think it was normal to need a hit of caffeine in the afternoon. Then I learned that common does NOT equal normal, and common most definitely does not equal healthy.
Here’s the good news: there are steps you can take to energize your body throughout the day and avoid this desperate feeling when you reach the afternoon!
The best place to start is with breakfast. Before we even talk about what to eat, let’s recognize that it’s important TO EAT breakfast. Your body has been in a state of rest, relaxation, and recharging for several hours. It needs fuel to break the fast – break-fast. Instead of processed cereal and milk, why not go for oatmeal with almonds and blueberries? Or prepare a couple of hard-boiled eggs that you can grab-n-go in a hurry. Pair them with an avocado and a mandarin orange and you’re starting your day off on the right foot.
It’s also important to remember to drink water throughout the day. Dehydration is certain to cause sleepiness and fatigue. Imagine that a few glasses of water could be the difference between your 3pm exhaustion and vitality.
Don’t forget to put some thought into your snacks. You want to be sure to stay away from white flour and sugars, which are in most packaged foods. Simple carbs and sugar will provide an initial spike, but then you’ll feel the afternoon slump as you come down from the sugar high.
Take a few minutes at home to prepare trail mix with almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and Goji berries. If you’re weaning off sweets you can add some cacao nibs or mini chocolate chips (I prefer Enjoy Life brand because their products are free of common allergens). Mini-guacamole packs and carrot sticks make a great snack too.
The midday madness doesn’t have to continue. You can control how your body feels by nourishing it with healthy food (and water) throughout the day.
Try these tips this week to be free from your afternoon dependency on carbs, sugar and caffeine! I can't wait to see you on the other side of the afternoon slump.
