How to Blast the 3:00 PM Exhaustion Blues

Whether you’re a morning person or a night person, when the clock strikes 3:00 PM, if you’re like me at least, you need a nap. Regardless of how much sleep you had the night before and regardless of whether or not you’re taking energy or diet supplements that promise a boost in energy (like Acai Effect), there’s something about the mid-afternoon that just makes you want to curl up, forget about work, and take a quick snooze. This, of course, happens most frequently to men and women who sit behind desks and don’t get much exercise, but it also happens to people like me—a personal trainer who spends most of his time up and about, active and moving.

Here are a few tips about how you can blast the 3:00 PM exhaustion blues, gets a burst of energy, and stay motivated to work until the clock chimes 5:00 and you’re free.

1.    Drink lots of water. A lot of times our bodies confuse thirst and dehydration with exhaustion. We think we’re tired, but really the middle of the afternoon is when our bodies realize that they haven’t been watered all morning and are running empty. Do your body and your energy level a favor by drinking lots of water, not just when you start getting tired, but all morning long.
2.    Lose weight. People who carry around more weight on their frames tend to exhaust more easily, usually because they’re not leading active enough lives.
3.    Exercise…yes, even while you’re at work. No job forces you to sit for eight or nine hours straight without allowing you to get up. So maybe you can’t leave the desk for a walk around the block (which would be ideal every few hours), but walks to the water cooler, to the bathroom, and exercises done at your desk will help keep you energized during that last leg of your work day. There are some great books and websites about yoga positions that you can do at your desk—consider checking them out to learn some new invigorating stretches. And okay, so people may stare, but you can always fall back on doing a few sets of jumping jacks every hour or two…it works like a charm.
4.    Take an energy supplement. The market is loaded with energy drinks and herbal supplements that are intended to boost your energy levels. Some work, some don’t, so try them out and see if any suit your needs. I often recommend that people try Acai Effect since it also provides weight loss benefits.