How to Combat the Afternoon Slump
This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Here's a question I don't think we've ever talked about: how to combat the afternoon slump. Do you feel sleepy or unmotivated midday, readers? How do you make that time period productive for you?
Things we have talked about in the past include how to stay energized at work, how to improve your focus, how to survive the day after the work-related all-nighter, how scheduling breaks can increase your productivity, and how to investigate when you're exhausted all the time.
(We've also talked about productivity hacks, our favorite books on productivity, and how to make the most of your productive times.)
How I Combat the Afternoon Slump
I definitely feel unmotivated by midday, if not a little sleepy. Things I try to do to get over this:
- go outside for some sunlight and a quick walk
- grab a healthy snack
- green tea — it's the right amount of caffeine to wake me up but not keep me up all night
- try to do easier work
- leave tasks like phone calls or meetings until midday
- (in extreme cases, I'll try to take a quick nap — it's been ages since we talked about how to take a nap at work! I will say that when I do try to nap midday I adore this sleep mask from Manta because it totally blocks the light but is very comfortable.)
Readers, how about you — do you get sleepy midday? How do you push through the afternoon slump? If you work longer hours than 9-5, do you feel like you feel the slump later in the day? (If I remember correctly when I worked hours closer to 10a-11p I often felt two slumps, one around 2:30 and one again around 7:30…)
Stock photo via Deposit Photos / Wavebreakmedia.
1) i try to push lunch as late as i can to delay
2) i try to stand up/ move around
3) have a mint/gum/chocolate/ tea/ coke
4) plan around doing things that are more engaging and less detailed.
The most obvious thing seems to be missed…water.
These ideas are great! Thank you. One suggestion isn’t possible for many of us. If I took a nap at work, I would get fired. Seriously.
Combatting the afternoon slump requires both physiological and behavioral strategies—this article nails the key points with science-backed solutions. As a productivity consultant for Fortune 500 executives, I’ve found the ‘micro-break’ strategy (#3 in the article) most effective when paired with hydration. Many clients mistake fatigue for mental exhaustion when they’re actually dehydrated; keeping a smart bottle(https://holohololife.com/) on the desk (with time-marked measurements) ensures consistent water intake without disruptive bathroom trips. The bottle’s grip-friendly design also encourages more frequent sips during Zoom marathons.
Three underrated slump-busters from my practice:
Post-Lunch Alkalinity – Adding lemon or cucumber to water combats the pH drop from heavy meals that exacerbates fatigue
Tactile Stimulation – Keeping a stress ball or fidget tool in the dominant hand prevents drowsiness during passive listening
Olfactory Resets – Peppermint or citrus essential oil dabbed on a wristband provides instant sensory awakening
Question for high-performers: What’s your go-to ‘slump protocol’ when back-to-back meetings prevent physical breaks? Mine is 30 seconds of isometric glute squeezes while seated + three strategic sips from my holoholo.