The mid-day slump is a problem for thousands of office workers. You can treat your fatigue with energy drinks. However, energy drinks are only a temporary fix.
This article will address common reasons that you could be fatigued. Reflect on whether these habits have become part of your lifestyle. If you have high energy, you will be able to perform better, deal with stress better, and be happier at work.
Smoking
Thousands of warnings alert us that smoking causes cancer. We often miss how smoking impacts our daily lifestyle.
According to Dr. Michael Roizen MD, smoking causes our arteries to dilate to only 50% of people of those who were never exposed to tobacco smoke. When the arteries to your muscles can’t dilate, the muscles feel acutely tired and sore. Therefore, you cannot do as much.
If you are taking a mid-day smoke break, stop! While smoking creates an immediate energy boost, it does not create sustainable energy that gets you through the work day.
Over Stressed
Have you ever had a difficult problem that you poured all your energy into solving?
Managing stress can be draining. WebMD claims that stress activates your sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system creates a high energy boost to deal with the problem. The body quickly crashes preventing sustainable energy.
How to Control Your Stress Levels
- Improve Time Management Skills
- Seek Counseling
- Say “No” When Possible
- Take Personal Time
- Plan Tasks Ahead
Excessive Coffee Intake
Do you drink coffee throughout the day for energy? The habit could be making you more tired. Excessive coffee makes you dehydrated, which causes fatigue.
Studies by MayoClinic show that four cups of coffee per day is safe for adults. If you are chronically tired, stick to one cup of coffee in the morning. Keep a water bottle next to you filled with water. Make it a goal to finish the water by the end of the day.
Poor Diet
When we get busy, we often eat the fastest thing that we can find. That meal is usually unhealthy. Unfortunately, if you are eating foods that are high in sugar and simple carbs, you will probably crash after an hour. Snack on nutrient dense foods to help you maintain energy throughout the day.
Follow these healthy eating tips to provide you with sustained energy;
- Snack on protein and fiber rich foods
- Remove the energy drinks and replace them with water
- Balance your plate with protein, complex carbohydrates, and fruits and vegetables.
- Eat small meals with nutrient dense snacks
Never Saying “No”
Do you ever feel mentally drained when you are overwhelmed with responsibilities? If you feel yourself hitting a wall then start saying “no”.
“No” if you are too busy. “No” if the project will keep you in the office until late at night. There will be times when your job position requires you to say “yes” to overwhelming projects. However, recognize when you can say “no”. This will help you decrease stress that causes fatigue.
Glued to the Computer
Sitting long hours at the computer is not just bad for your back and waist line. Staring at a computer screen can cause mental fatigue that leaves us unmotivated at the end of the day.
Excessive computer work can cause Chronic Fatigue, a disease where you suffer from tiredness for over six months. More than 500,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Computers and smartphones are linked to eye fatigue because you blink less when using a digital device. Blinking naturally refreshes the eyes. Electronic device users blink half as often as normal.
Step away from your computer every hour to avoid Chronic Fatigue. Standing can also reenergize you to get your job done.
