It’s a common challenge people face when trying to get through their workday–about the middle of the afternoon, you feel really tired, like you want to go to sleep right now. But what’s causing this low-energy period in the middle of your day? And what can be done to stop it?
Here are some causes of midafternoon slumps, and how you can avoid them.
Too Much Sugar
One of the major problems in the modern American diet is that we consume too much sugar. If you’re consuming sugar for most of the day, especially in the morning mixed in with your coffee, you are setting yourself up for a crash as your body burns through all the sugar quickly, leaving you with little energy in reserve.
Try to eat a balanced diet with a lot of protein, which is harder for your body to break down and can give you longer-term energy.
Skipping Meals
We know you’re probably on a diet right now–it is January, after all–but there’s no excuse for skipping meals altogether. That just sets your body up for failure. Your body begins to try to conserve resources by reducing consumption so you have less energy after missing a meal.
Poor Posture
Poor posture puts your body in an inefficient configuration. It consumes more energy and can’t breathe as well as when you are sitting (or, even better, standing) up straight. If you notice yourself bent over at several times during the day, try to get in the habit of maintaining proper posture.
Dehydration
One of the common symptoms of dehydration is fatigue. Unfortunately, many of us become dehydrated because we never drink water, focusing instead on drinks like coffee, tea, and soda. Although these do have a net hydration effect, they are not as hydrating as plain water.
Stress
Stress will burn up your body’s resources fast. Your body is preparing itself for maximum effort all the time, and that takes resources. You may not breathe properly, and you may have difficulty digesting your meals. This combination can wear you out.
Sleep Apnea
Another cause of daytime sleepiness is that you’re not really sleeping well at night, no matter what you might think. If sleep apnea is interrupting your sleep at night, you may feel tired during the day. Sleep apnea has even been linked to midafternoon sodas.
Don’t keep suffering midday slumps. If you suspect sleep apnea might be causing your slowdowns in the middle of the day, please call (402) 493-4175 for an appointment with an Omaha sleep dentist at the Advanced Dental Sleep Treatment Center.
