I’m always excited to get some things done and to have a little “me time” when I put my daughter down for nap in the afternoon. Unfortunately, on many days I don’t get anything accomplished during her nap because I find myself feeling tired and having trouble focusing.
Thankfully, there are a number of easy things we can do to rejuvenate and refresh ourselves midday.
Easy ways to overcome the midday slump
- Get some exercise. We all know that exercise is good for our physical bodies, but it’s also great for our minds! It improves concentration, reduces stress, and heightens alertness. A few minutes of exercise (a walk around the block, stretching, a few sit-ups, etc.) gets oxygen-rich blood pumping throughout our bodies, giving us the energy we need to rise out of a slump.
- Eat a protein-rich snack and drink a tall glass of water. Eating protein-rich snacks (meats, low-fat cheeses, nuts, etc.) helps us feel more alert by counteracting the drowsiness that can be brought on by the spikes and drops in blood glucose caused by refined carbohydrates. Additionally, dehydration can cause feelings of fatigue, so it’s critical that we drink enough water to remain properly hydrated.
- Listen to some upbeat music. Simply listening to upbeat music can lift our spirits and help us feel livelier. Personally, I enjoy listening to upbeat praise and worship music, but any upbeat music will get the job done. If you want to “kill two birds with one stone,” then dance to the music. This will get you exercise as you listen!
- Get some sunshine. Sunshine can make such a difference in our dispositions! Just as it dispels literal clouds from the sky, it can dispel feelings of fatigue, frustration, stress, and discouragement from our minds. We should get outside to be in the sunshine, if possible. If this isn’t possible, then it’s a good idea to at least open the blinds and curtains so the sun can shine in the windows.
- Laugh out loud. Laughter is incredibly good for us. It reduces stress hormones, increases our creativity, and improves our moods. We benefit from spending a few minutes reading jokes, watching comedies, browsing comic strips, or any other number of activities that will cause us to laugh.
- Take a nap. Sometimes a midday slump is caused by genuine fatigue. Perhaps, like me, you are tired because you are pregnant and chasing after a toddler. On the other hand, you may be tired because you have had lots of company visiting or because you’ve been working a lot of overtime. Regardless of the reason, brief naps (about 20 minutes is all it takes!) can reenergize us and give us the focus we need to finish the day productively.
I’ve tried all of these strategies in recent days and they’re all helpful! My personal favorites are taking naps and getting some sunshine.
Do you ever experience a midday slump? How do you overcome it?
Shared at the following link party:
Think Tank Thursday, Friday Frivolity, Small Victories Sunday, Making Your Home Sing, Living Proverbs 31, and Shine Blog Hop.
I also love the naps and sunshine (I love being outside, and it is so energizing!). My biggest problem is having the self-control and determination to get out of bed after only 20 or 30 minutes. Too often, I submit to the comfort of bed and will wind up having a lengthy nap, which ultimately makes me more tired and disrupts my nighttime sleep cycle. On the occasion that I do need to take a short nap, I’ve started opening all of the window shades so that seeing the sunshine will help me get up-and it works sometimes 🙂
I often have this problem, too, AnneMarie. I’ll put my feet up while my toddler naps and fall asleep. The next thing I know an hour has passed! It does often make it difficult to fall asleep at night. Thanks for the tip on opening the shades! Good idea for waking up…plus it lets in some of that sunshine that is so important!
I like to drink my favorite herbal tea several times a day. My favorite brand right now is Pukka teas. There’s a lot of hidden sugars in juices, soda , sports drinks even so called “healthy” drinks so I tried to avoid them. I usually drink green tea earlier in the day because of the caffeine. As I sip my tea I try to gather my thoughts and remember to think of God’s eternal perspective on things and not to get caught up in worldly distractions.. I am making an effort to really “unplug”. .. We don’t have cable etc. There is so much static today in the world we live… cellphones , social media etc, that get in the way of hearing God’s voice.
“I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but I will not be mastered by anything.
1 Corinthians 6:12
with joy
These technologies definitely can be distracting and weigh us down! Unplugging is a great way to refresh ourselves. Thanks for this reminder!
You’re a lady after my own heart with this one, Shannon. I love having me time during my daughter’s naptime in the afternoon, but like you said, I often suffer from that mid-day slump. These are great tips to avoid that, especially the exercising and getting outside part. Now that the weather is getting nicer, it’s great to be outdoors again for that daily dose of sunshine. It really does make a difference. Thanks for joining us this week on #shinebloghop. As always, it’s such a pleasure having you 🙂
Hi Maria,
Yes, sunshine does make a difference! Those few moments we get during naps are too precious not to get energized so we can take full advantage of them.
I definitely find getting out in the fresh air for a bit helps – and the music! 🙂 #FridayFrivolity
Getting outside has to be one of the most effective strategies! Thanks for stopping by, Jess.
Naps and sunshine are my favorite too 🙂
Unfortunately, not quite feasible in an office environment. So I go for snacks and walking the halls to get some energy pumping.
Walking the halls is a great idea, Julie. It may not be outside, but at least you’re able to move about!
I used to exercise first thing in the morning (when I’m raring to go, with lots of energy), but lately I’ve found that it’s better if I do it when I start to slump in the afternoons. As long as I can manage to make myself do it, it makes such a difference and perks me right up! Thanks for joining us at #FridayFrivolity!
Hi Lisa,
Motivating yourself is the hard part, isn’t it? I struggle with that, too.