ASK DR. DISH: Mid-afternoon slump

Question: Miss Dish, I don’t know if you deal with these kinds of topics and since you seem to have a lot of energy maybe you can help. I can’t stay awake at my desk past 2 o’clock. I don’t know what it is but I feel like I’m going to pass out. I work in an office setting in front of a computer all day long. My job is monotonous and I guess that does not help. Any suggestions on how I can keep my eyes open for the rest of the afternoon? How do you stay awake?

Answer: (Miss Dish, I like that!) Energy? Me? I’m always drinking Diet Coke. That’s how I stay awake!

But truth be told, many of us experience this mid-afternoon slump. I get it, too, right about 2 p.m. — like you — when the energy boost from lunch turns into a food coma. It’s hard to stay awake, even for me with students roaming in and out of my office all day.

What I do — and this doesn’t work for everyone — is get up and walk around. I get sleepy in my office because 1) it’s dark, 2) it’s air-conditioned and 3) I’m bored and tired of sitting. When I walk around, I feel better, my blood starts circulating, I’m re-energized.

And not just walk around the office — I literally walk around outside, sometimes just sit in the sun. The boost of vitamin D, I’ve read, helps.

Anyone got tips to share?

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To read all of Cat’s blogs, visit www.nonstophonolulu.com/thedailydish. Follow Cat on Twitter @thedailydish or send her an e-mail at cat@nonstophonolulu.com.

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