It’s 1pm – almost time to present that important report to your clients. But you find yourself way too sleepy after lunch. How do you win against this sleepiness? Well, here are some tips that can help you out.
It’s important to find out why you’re sleepy
As talked about in our previous article, it’s normal to feel drowsy after a large meal due to our digestive process.
After a large meal, the digestive system triggers all kinds of responses in our body. The amount of insulin in our bodies increase during digestion – the excess of which causes the amino acid tryptophan to get in the brain and increase serotonin and melatonin levels. This is where we start to feel calm and sleepy.
Fight off the drowsiness after lunch
When you begin feeling tired, this is your body prompting you to rest. As a busy salaried employee or student, it’s understandable not having the spare time to take a nap. But if you can squeeze it in, napping can do wonders for your productivity.
If you really can’t take a nap, you can try some preventive measures that don’t involve drinking coffee or tea.
Eat a smaller meal
Digesting a large meal requires more energy from our bodies. To avoid drowsiness after lunch, eat a filling breakfast to limit the size of your lunch meal. This way, you don’t use up too much of your energy after eating.
Tip: Listen to your body – stop eating when you feel comfortably satisfied. Overeating will let you fall into the trap of post-lunch exhaustion.
Less sugar and fat, please
Food containing too much sugar and fat easily gives rise to sleepiness. Fat requires more energy to digest and break down, such as hamburgers, fried food, pizza, cheese, etc.
You should go for good food options. There’s a plethora food out there that will aid your digestion. Foods rich in fibre and vitamins will push digestion ahead – think apples, oranges, carrots, and tomatoes.
Take a walk
Exercises always do our health good. Take a walk and have a breath of fresh air before heading back to the office. This does not only increase your blood flow, but also keeps you awake.
Some stretching exercises can also relax shoulder, neck, and back pain caused by sitting too much at work.
Get a good night’s sleep
There is no better way to kickstart your day than with a perfect night’s sleep.
Healthy adults under the age of 60 need 7-9 hours of sleep per night to recover energy with adequate sleep. Oftentimes, you just need a good mattress and a plush pillow to get that good night’s sleep you’ve always been seeking.
If you have insomnia or narcolepsy or symptoms of it due to physical or emotional problems, please consult a doctor or specialist for treatment.