Most people who deal with a midday slump feel completely drained and unable to focus at some point during the afternoon. As a result, their productivity drops significantly, making it impossible to handle the daily demands of their life.
Some try to overcome the midday slump by consuming energy drinks, but we all know that’s only like adding gasoline to a fire. Energy drinks are only a quick fix that doesn’t address the root cause of your fatigue and unproductivity, not to mention the possible downsides they can have on your health.
Luckily, there are better and more natural ways to boost your energy and productivity instead of reaching for a sugar and caffeine-packed energy drink. Here, we’ll go over seven proven strategies that can help you overcome fatigue and reclaim your productivity.
But first, let’s see why mainstream energy drinks are so bad for your health.
The Dark Side of Energy Drinks
While energy drinks might provide a quick burst of alertness and temporary energy, they have many downsides. There’re two reasons for that: excess sugar and too much caffeine.
Energy drinks are notorious for their high sugar content, which can lead to weight gain, tooth decay, and a higher risk of developing chronic conditions like diabetes. In addition, too much caffeine in energy drinks can cause anxiety, nervousness, jitters, crash, and a range of other side effects.
That’s why the CDC has warned people about the potential dangers of energy drinks, stating they may lead to:
- Jitters and nervousness
- Anxiety
- Increased blood pressure and heart rate
- Heart complications
- Dehydration
- Insomnia
So, while consuming an energy drink may temporarily help you feel awake and alert, it comes at a huge cost. Not to mention it is only a quick fix and not a viable long-term solution. That’s why you need to change your daily routine and adjust your lifestyle to fix the root cause of your fatigue and unproductivity. It’s the only way to get a sustainable, long-term energy boost.
Boosting Energy Without Energy Drinks
It’s time to forget about energy drinks and embrace these seven proven techniques that can improve your energy levels and productivity in a healthy and sustainable way.
Stay Active
According to experts, exercise is a great way to boost your energy levels and feel more productive. Being active causes your heart to pump harder to get all the nutrients and oxygen to your muscles. This helps your body produce more energy and use it efficiently. As a result, you’ll feel better and more productive throughout the day.
So, how much activity do you need to see these benefits?
The great thing is that you don’t need to go to the gym for hours to feel better. In fact, researchers have discovered that short bursts of moderate-intensity activity, such as brisk walking, could help people fight off fatigue. The same study found that a 5-minute exercise several times a day could help people feel more energized and improve their mood.
So, the next time you feel tired and unproductive, get up and take a brisk walk to refresh your brain.
Find Ways to Manage Stress
Stressed people often feel drained and unproductive. The constant pressure and demands of everyday life can leave us feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, making it impossible to focus and excel in our daily tasks.
So, if stress is the cause of your lack of energy, relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises can help. These practices activate your body’s relaxation response, which decreases tension, improves mental clarity, and boosts energy levels. As a result, you’ll find it easier to focus and be productive.
In addition to stress management techniques, you can try other strategies to minimize stress in your life. That may include setting healthy boundaries, prioritizing self-care, learning to delegate tasks, improving time management, and engaging in activities you enjoy.
Be Mindful of What You Eat
We all know how important our diets are for our health and well-being. What you eat also determines your energy and productivity levels.
For example, we’ve all been victims of a food coma after a large meal. That’s because your body increases blood flow to the digestive system, causing a temporary decrease in alertness and energy levels.
But, if you want to feel energized, your diet should consist of healthy foods filled with protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
In addition, a healthy snack like fruits, veggies, trail mix, nuts, or a hard-boiled egg can help you overcome a midday slump and maintain your focus and productivity.
Try a Natural Energy-Supporting Supplement
If you’re serious about boosting energy and productivity, natural supplements are a valuable tool to explore. These nutrient-rich allies hold the potential to revitalize your body and help you regain focus and drive.
There are countless natural supplements that can support your fight against sluggishness and low energy. That includes adaptogens for optimizing stress response, nootropics for promoting focus and mental performance, minerals for optimizing cellular processes, and other essential nutrients.
The best option is to find a proven formulation designed to boost energy and focus. One of the options includes the MTE wellness companion, which contains 11 different adaptogens, nootropics, and superfoods that can support healthy energy levels, productivity, sleep quality, stress response, and more.
Stay Hydrated
This one is really simple – your body needs water to function optimally.
When you don’t drink enough water, your blood volume is down, which means that your heart needs to pump harder to get nutrients throughout your body. As a result, you may feel unfocused, tired, and unmotivated.
Keep in mind that even mild dehydration can make you feel tired. So, if you don’t want your performance to suffer, drink water at first sight of fatigue, and it may just be what your body needs.
Be Strategic With Your Naps
Most people think of naps as being lazy and unproductive. But the truth is that a power nap can boost your productivity through the roof and help you maintain focus and alertness throughout the day.
Experts suggest that taking a nap in the afternoon can help people improve:
- Mood
- Focus and concentration
- Alertness
- Reaction time
- Short-term memory
So, taking a nap seems like a no-brainer, right?
Well, that’s only if you limit your nap to 30 minutes and avoid taking it late in the day. Otherwise, you risk reaching deeper stages of sleep, which can make you groggy and unmotivated. Not to mention how it can interfere with your regular sleep schedule if you nap too long or too late in the day.
Get Your Sleep in Order
Here’s one simple truth you can’t ignore: there is no alternative to a good night’s sleep!
Sure, the other things from this list may help you feel better and more productive, but if you don’t prioritize rest, you’ll fall into a vicious cycle of feeling tired and trying to compensate for lack of sleep.
The recommended 7+ hours of uninterrupted sleep each night can truly transform how you feel throughout the day. So, prioritize sleep by following a consistent schedule and creating a relaxing bedtime routine. That will help you wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day. In addition, it can help minimize the afternoon energy rollercoaster.
Conclusion
Although many people use energy drinks as a quick band-aid for fatigue and unproductivity, these sugar and caffeine-packed drinks are not a good long-term solution. Plus, they are likely bad for your health.
Instead, you can try being more active, improving sleep habits, reducing stress, changing your diet, trying natural supplements, drinking more water, and incorporating power naps into your daily routine.
These strategies are more sustainable and can help you improve focus and energy in a natural and healthy way.
