NederlandsWhat to do about an afternoon dip?
'Mañana mañana': What does not come today, will come tomorrow. Followed by closing the shutters, ready for a siesta. Our southern neighbors are really not that crazy after all. Anyway, now the temperature has dropped considerably again and we can't blame high air temperatures for our afternoon slump. How do you recognize an energy dip and how do you get rid of it?
By: Kyra Joosen
A moment of lack of concentration or an afternoon that is less fit is not an afternoon dip. Sitting apathetically in your chair after lunch almost every day is a sign that you need to take action. Maybe you suffer from a bad night's sleep, your hormonal balance is confused or you have a strongly fluctuating sugar level. But why only completely collapse in the afternoon? Your reserves are then literally used up. Your body has used up everything in the morning and your energy drops.
Siesta vs power nap
The tank is empty and you just want to sleep. Experts say a two-hour siesta is too long. Een powernap between five and twenty minutes can have a positive effect if it is before three o'clock. This has everything to do with your sleep cycle. If you take a short nap at three o'clock, you will not be able to sleep well at night. Around this time your new sleep cycle starts and that is at the same time the sleep cycle of your night. If you would like to roll out your sleeping mat under your desk, do this around one or two o'clock. And do you have a very important meeting in the afternoon? Then have a cup of coffee before your power nap. The caffeine starts working as soon as you wake up again, an extra energy boost after twenty minutes close your eyes and close your beak. And how hip it sounds to tell colleagues it's time for your nappuccino (nap and cappuccino)!
Coke, coffee or Cup-a-Soup?
You look at your colleague and you actually know enough already. Time for coffee, a juice or to loot the candy jar. But you really shouldn't do that. Sugar is also the biggest enemy here. Eat a whole-wheat sandwich or an apple. In any case, slow carbohydrates or products with a lot of protein so that your blood sugar level does not run wild. Also drink enough water in a day.
Have a break...
I know, it's busy, but having lunch in front of the computer isn't going to help you. Eat together with your colleagues, don't talk about work for a while but relax. Een block or a game of table football after lunch provides a fresh (and heated) view of your work.
Does all this not work or do you really not have time for it all? Then chew. Chewing gum stimulates your brain. But limit smacking behind your computer to a maximum of 15 minutes. Otherwise it is useless and will only make your colleagues irritated!