It happens to the best of us; you’ve gotten a great night sleep, but for some reason around 3 pm you can’t seem to keep your eyes open. If you start working early in the morning, you’re bound to hit a point where it’s hard to keep going. Here are some ways to make it past that afternoon slump:
Caffeinate
This is a classic, but there’s nothing like a caffeine booster in the afternoon to help get you through the rest of your day. When you find yourself struggling to keep your eyes open, try taking a shot of espresso and powering through.
Clear your mind
Sometimes you just need to reset your mind to get you through the tail end of a long day. You can take a walk around the block, or around the building if you don’t have a lot of time. Some other great ways to do this is meditate at your desk, find a quiet corner to close your eyes for 10 minutes, read a few pages of a good book, or do some creative writing (you can find prompts online).
Plan your time wisely
Try to plan your to-do lists based on your energy levels. If you know that around 3 pm every day you’re going to get tired and less productive, plan to work on projects that will take the most brain power early in the morning, and use your time later in the day to work on projects that don’t require as much focus and creativity.
Optimizing my calendar
Try to schedule a lot of your meetings for the afternoon. Connecting with other people, discussing exciting topics, and figuring out new ways to tackle projects can help you get re-energized.
Switching it up
Simply switching projects and focusing your mind towards something new can make a huge difference during a slump. This helps to keep your mind working by challenging you and getting you thinking about something new and exciting, and then you can come back to the project later with fresh eyes.
Popping in my headphones
Turning on some music you enjoy can motivate you and puts you in a good mood, which can help you focus and give you an energy boost.
