Ways to Combat Afternoon Sleepiness

Staying productive at work the entire day can be challenging, especially when your afternoon fatigue kicks in. If you have contracts to go over and endless emails to reply to, the thought of keeping your eyes open may be too much to handle. The following strategies can help you overcome bouts of afternoon sleepiness.

Keep the Office Cool

In order to stay efficient and organized all day, it pays to keep a neat and tidy office. You can also get a lot more done in the afternoon if you keep your office temperatures on the cool side when you feel ready to doze. The lower thermostat may make your teeth chatter, but you’ll instantly perk up enough to tackle work that needs to be finished before the end of the day. If you don’t have your own office and don’t want to freeze out your co-workers, go outside for a quick breath of fresh air.

Moisten Your Contacts

Staring at your computer screen on a daily basis can tire out your eyes. It can also cause dry eye, especially if you fail to blink while perusing the Internet. If you wear contact lenses and have sensitive eyes, your lenses may need to be refreshed in the afternoon with the rewetting solution. Keep a bottle of solution at work and head to the bathroom when your eyes begin to feel like closing. The added moisture in the lenses can be just what you need to wake up. The best thing you can do is talk with your eye doctor and see which brand or disposable lens replacement schedule works best for you. Once you’ve determined the best fit, do your price research and buy contact lenses online to save some money.

Chug a Beverage

It can be difficult to stay motivated throughout the entire day when you’re at work. It can be even more of a challenge when you’re fighting to stay awake come afternoon. Gulping down an ice-cold beverage such as water or Gatorade can wake you up by shocking your system. While caffeinated coffee and tea may sound tempting, you want to avoid these jittery drinks as they can keep you up late into the night. So when you start to get drowsy, skip the soda and make a trip to the office water cooler.

Use the Stairs

Desk jobs can make it even harder to stay awake during the afternoon hours. Before you get a case of the head bobs, and your co-workers find you napping at your desk, get up and start your heart pumping. Exercise such as running up and down the stairs a couple of times can boost your energy and cause your body to wake up.

Meditate and Stretch

When one thinks of stretching and meditation, they think of relaxation. However, deep stretches, bending, and breathing deeply can wake up your mind and body. It can also help clear your head, so you can tackle the jobs that you’ve put off during the morning hours.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Getting too little sleep the night before can make your afternoon a chore to get through. In order to fight your afternoon fatigue, make it a point to get to bed early each night. Getting at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night can help energize you for the day ahead. To help settle in for the night, take a hot bath or shower and turn off the T.V. and other electronics an hour before you’re ready for bed.

Take a Break

If you’ve tried everything, and you still find yourself nodding off in the afternoon, taking a break and finding something funny on the Internet can boost your energy. Finding a video that makes you laugh or smile can liven up your senses. It may even help to take a walk around your office building or do a few jumping jacks in the privacy of your office to perk your body up.

Essential Oils

Aromatherapy is essential for waking up your mind and body. If you find that you can barely keep your eyes open, a couple of sprays or dabs of grapefruit, melon, or pineapple oil can help you awaken. You can also open the bottle up and inhale the citrusy and fruity fragrances.