I just could not resist to take a nap after my lunch, my eye lids are closing and I am yawning like a hippo after eating. Haha. Well, it is a universal phenomenon called post-lunch dips.
Post-lunch Dips
There are many reasons that why this happens. According to my readings, it occurs because the body:
- shifts its focus from work to digesting the food taken.
- draws oxygen from other area to help in digestion through blood. The heavier the meal taken the more oxygen is needed to process the food. Therefore, when our oxygen level in our body particularly our brain lowered the more sleepy we are.
- produce more serotonin ( in brain) after food, a neurotransmitter that promotes sleepiness.
Perhaps the tips below might help to reduce sleepiness when afternoon arrives.
1. Take a 10 minutes nap. Well, if you could not fight it, just let it come. Haha. Studies shows that a short nap makes us more focus, fresh and hence increase productivity at work place. So, power-up yourself with a short nap!
Short nap increases productivity
2. Do some stretching or exercise. Walking or stretching your muscles for few minutes enhance blood circulation and and increase your body oxygen level by deep breathing during the exercise. Stop nailing yourself to your seat!
Stretching makes you fresh
Walk around your office to eliminate sleepiness
3. Acupressure on your shoulders, face, head and in between fingers boost blood circulation yet makes you feel fresh.
Self acupressure
4. Drink a cup of strawberry juice instead of coffee. Strawberry is rich in Vitamins C and B which are good to keep you energise and hydrated (dehydrated also a cause of sleepiness). I have tried it and it really works, I also jolt up by its sourness too! However, it is sometimes inconvenient to buy strawberries here therefore, most of the time I drink green tea instead as a substitution. Green tea is known for its goodness for beauty too, thanks to its rich antioxidant!
Fresh strawberry juice
Green tea
5. Meditate to relax, keep focus by doing deep breathing exercise to circulate more oxygen into your body. This help eliminate the desire to sleep yet be more attentive.
5 minutes meditation keeps you fresh
6. No heavy lunch. The heavier lunch you take the more work your body needs to work and the sleepier you are. Consume adequate amount of food, if possible avoid too much intake of carbohydrate – more in dishes less in rice makes you less sleepy yet slimmer.
Avoid heavy lunch, take light lunch
7. Chat with your colleagues. Establish few benefit talks to activate your brain rather than staying alone in your cubicle.
Talking helps eliminate sleepiness
These tips are just temporary solutions to afternoon sleepiness that I have tried. I only got better results when I really regulate my routine exercises and balance up my diet to keep healthy and energetic.
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4 Responses to “7 Simple Tips to Overcome Daytime Sleepiness”
Green tea is the best! But it’s true, I am quite plagued with daytime sleepiness and it interferes a little with my work.. I feel old sometimes.. LOL! First time dropping here..
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ahh..sleepy during working hours..thanks for the tips
iam a student. iam having 8 hrs sleep everyday but i still feel sleepy in classes in the early hrs till lunch break. i tried having chocolates to overcome sleep it worked but after a week my chocolates did not work as my sleep over came it! now what should i do to overcome sleep????
I feel sleepy especially in the morning… gosh, I drink 2 cups of strong coffee just to keep awake till afternoon…