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Important ways to consider to avoid afternoon slumps.

Important ways to consider to avoid afternoon slumps.

The majority of us have experienced highly productive mornings where we finished assignments. Also, worked to clear our inboxes and resisted the impulse to tweet at our coworkers. As 2:00 rolls around, you might as well close the blinds, put on your jammies, and go to bed.

Whenever the afternoon comes around, it’s quite normal to feel extremely exhausted. The noon slump can be caused by circadian rhythms, which have an impact on your sleep patterns.

You may wish to take an afternoon nap because your “sleep signals” actually peak at night and in the afternoon (at around 2 p.m.).

Your energy may also be impacted by other elements, such as what you eat, and how well you’re hydrated. Also, how much time do you spend staring at a screen.

Consider it time to relax on your office chair. Here are some strategies for combating weariness as soon as it manifests.

What is the Afternoon Slump?

As your energy levels drop in the late afternoon, it’s known as the afternoon slump. You may find it difficult to focus at work, lose interest in working exercise, and feel overall lethargic. Also, slow, and unable to think of anything other than snatching up another cup of coffee or fitting in a quick sleep.

Not simply in the mid-afternoon slump do you feel exhausted. Your morals and self-control are compromised, as well as your ability to drive safely.

What Causes the Afternoon Slump?

Contrary to popular perception, a big lunch is not what causes the afternoon slump (but it can be exacerbated by one). Your circadian cycle is to blame.

The internal biological clock in your body is called the circadian rhythm. This clock regulates things like your sleep-wake cycle when your body generates specific hormones. Also, when your body temperature changes on an approximately 24-hour cycle.

Your daily timing can vary, but your generally steady flow of energy takes the form of:

  • You experience grogginess or sleep inertia when you awaken.
  • You experience your initial energy surge in the morning.
  • You have an afternoon blah.
  • In the late afternoon or early evening, you experience a second-wind energy surge.
  • Your activity level decreases till sleep

So, the majority of the time, your body’s biological makeup is to blame for your energy slump in the afternoon. There might, however, be more factors at work.

You might experience afternoon fatigue more than usual if:

  • You haven’t had enough rest.
  • Your circadian cycle is out of whack.
  • You suffer from a sleeping issue such as sleep apnea.
  • You have a medical issue like ADHD that makes it difficult for you to sleep and stay awake.

How to Beat the Afternoon Slump?

Lower Your Sleep Debt

The amount of sleep you owe your body in total is called your sleep debt. It is compared to your sleep demand, which is the amount of sleep per night that is controlled by your genes.

According to one study, the recommended amount of sleep per night is 8 hours 40 minutes, plus or minus 10 minutes. Although 13.5% of people may require 9 hours or more.

To find out your exact number, turn to the RISE app. Your exact amount of sleep is determined by RISE using historical phone use data and proprietary sleep science-based models. The amount of sleep debt you are carrying can then be calculated by the app. To feel and perform at your best, we measure this over the previous 14 nights and advise that you keep it under five hours.

Even while you can always have a fall in energy in the afternoon, you’ll notice it more after a sleepless night or when your sleep debt is high. Reduce your sleep debt to lessen how tired you feel overall and in the afternoon slump.

Sync Up with Your Circadian Rhythm

Your circadian rhythm is what makes you feel so weary in the afternoons, but if you’re not synchronizing your lifestyle with it, you may feel even less energised at this time and throughout the rest of the day. Circadian rhythm may be out of whack if:

  • You work the night shift.
  • You’re living contrary to your chronotype. For example, if you force yourself to get up early while being a night owl. Here, we discuss how to maximize the potential of your chronotype.
  • When your physiological clock and social clock don’t sync. This can happen due to an erratic sleep routine, you get social jet lag. For instance, 87% of us, on average, go to bed two hours later on the weekends than we do during the week.

Schedule Your Day

You can lessen how severely the afternoon slump affects you each day by reducing your sleep debt and synchronizing with your circadian clock. The energy slump is still a normal aspect of your biology, therefore you’ll probably always experience it to some degree.

Working with the slump rather than against it will help you if you can’t overcome it. Employ rise to determine when your daily afternoon slump will occur, and then plan your day accordingly.

For instance, if at all possible, plan simpler work for your afternoon slump, such as administrative duties, emails, and catch-up meetings with low stakes. Reserve laborious chores, like writing, programming, or making presentations, for when your energy is at its highest.

Take a Break

Sometimes, during your afternoon energy slump, you can’t even do simple administrative activities. It’s better to take a break at this point and take a step back.

Take a stroll, finish some pointless housework, or engage in a soothing hobby like reading or listening to music. After you feel more energised and capable of being productive, return to work.

Use your weekend afternoon slump for some peace and quiet. Read a book, watch TV, or snooze with the kids (more on the power of naps below).

According to research, judges tend to make less favourable decisions on cases as the day goes on, but taking a break allows them to refocus. It is preferable to take brief but frequent breaks throughout the day, and to avoid waiting until the end of your schedule. Even taking pauses has been found to keep you focused on your objectives.

Work on a Task

Although if it doesn’t seem like it while you’re exhausted, the afternoon slump may be the ideal time to concentrate on a project that calls for insight, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.

According to research, you might be more adept at these tasks when your circadian cycle is not at its best. Hence, even though the afternoon is typically best suited for simple chores, try working on a challenging job on your to-do list during your afternoon slump to see if your brain can come up with new answers then.

Go to sleep

If you’re sleep deprived, taking a nap will help you reduce your sleep debt and increase your vitality. Even if you’ve been getting enough sleep lately, a midday nap can still assist to increase your energy, mood, and performance.

The best time to take a nap is also during your afternoon slump because sleeping now shouldn’t make it more difficult to fall asleep later.

It has been demonstrated that taking a 10-minute sleep in the afternoon increases vigour, vitality, and cognitive performance. Some of these advantages remain for more than 2.5 hours, so you should be able to finish the rest of the workday.

Get Some Exercise

The last thing on your mind in the afternoon when you’re feeling drowsy is exercising. Nonetheless, exercising might aid in removing exhaustion so that you can return to work feeling rejuvenated.

Even while you might not be setting any personal records at the gym, if you want to save your energy peaks for work and family time, your afternoon energy slump may be the perfect time to work out.

Also, a 2020 study indicated that exercising between 3 and 6 p.m. had greater metabolic benefits than exercising between 8 and 10 a.m. for people who were either at risk for or had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Drink Caffeine in the Morning but avoid in afternoon

The seductive call of a cup of coffee might be difficult to resist when the afternoon slump sets in. Yet, caffeine can stay in your system for up to 12 hours, so an innocent cup of coffee at 3 p.m. might keep you up at night. Your sleep debt will increase as a result, which will worsen your afternoon slump the following day.

Yet there’s another way that coffee can help you get through the mid-afternoon lull.

The half-life of caffeine is between three and seven hours. Thus, it takes three to seven hours for the quantity of caffeine in your system to decrease by half, and another three to seven hours for it to decrease by half once again, and so on.

Socialize with Friends or Colleagues 

Your energy can increase by socialising. Hence, if you’re experiencing a mid-afternoon energy slump, stop by a colleague’s desk for some energising small talk (if they’re also experiencing a dip in energy) or work on a project together. During this time, you can also take a break and talk to a friend or family member.

As you interact with others, dopamine and oxytocin are released, which improves your mood, lowers your cortisol levels, and lessens stress.

Need one more justification to invest in relationships? Your sleep may improve, giving you more energy throughout the day and throughout the afternoon slump.

Get Some Natural Light

Your energy can increase by socialising. Hence, if you’re experiencing a mid-afternoon energy slump, stop by a colleague’s desk for some energising small talk (if they’re also experiencing a dip in energy) or work on a project together. During this time, you can also take a break and talk to a friend or family member.

As you interact with others, dopamine and oxytocin are released, which improves your mood, lowers your cortisol levels, and lessens stress.

Need one more justification to invest in relationships? It might help you get better sleep, which will give you more energy throughout the day, including during the afternoon slump.

Eat a Healthy Lunch 

We know we mentioned your lunch isn’t the cause of the afternoon slump, but if you eat the wrong items, it can make matters worse. Your afternoon energy slump may be considerably worse than usual if you eat a meal high in carbohydrates or sugary snacks.

According to research, a big lunch results in higher drowsiness and subpar performance on simulated driving exams. Make a point of choosing lunches that are high in vegetables, whole grains, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats.

Go for things like bananas, chickpeas, kimchi, and tempeh. A 2022 study revealed that a diet strong in prebiotic and fermented foods reduced felt stress and increased subjective sleep quality.

REFERENCES:

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Typical lifestyle habits that can kill your sex lfe.

Typical lifestyle habits that can kill your sex lfe.

Do you believe your lover no longer wants to have sex? Do you believe that there aren’t many sexual embers in the bedroom? Let us warn you that the issue is not with your partner before you lash out and place the blame there. There are other factors at play than your relationship. Your sex drive might be killed by a number of habits.

Working long hours, drinking alcohol, and having stringent deadlines frequently cause couples to place less significance on their sexual life. Because of our way of life, we frequently prefer to disregard our personal lives. Perhaps you are also leading a lifestyle that is killing your sex drive without you realising it. We have provided a list of unhealthy behaviours that are impacting your sex desire to better help you understand. Long sex sessions, dirty moments, and flirting with one another all become faraway dreams.

Huddling in bed with your iPad

Indeed, it can be challenging to stop using Pinterest or to resist binge-watching the newest Orange Is the New Black season. But time, passion, and emotional energy can be lost to technology. Many women claim they have no time for sex, but Andrea Syrtash, a relationship specialist and the author of Cheat on Your Husband, notes that many admit to checking Facebook an hour before bed (With Your Husband). Also, sending that final email before turning out the lights ensures that you are concentrating on your work and not on getting into bed with your spouse.

Dr. Jane Greer, a marriage and sex therapist in New York, argues that this means that emotionally, you are elsewhere. (Having a TV in the bedroom also doesn’t help: A new study reveals that couples only engage in sexual activity half as frequently!) To reduce distractions, both experts advise turning off your electronics an hour before bed.

Eating much or too late

According to Dr. Rachel A. Sussman, LCSW, stress and busy schedules both contribute to late dinners, midnight snacking, and overeating. “Such habits can make us drained, stuffed, and self-conscious.” What occurs when we don’t feel good about ourselves, do you know? a great deal of nothing. she gave? Consider sex as your dessert, Sussman exhorts. “There’s a fairly good possibility that if you eat less, you’re going to have more energy and want to have sex later that evening.” (And, afterward, you can always have something sweet.)

Adding an extra wine glass

Another cunning culprit that can be putting a stop to your desire is alcohol usage. Sussman says, “People frequently drink to deal with stress, but it might backfire, making them fatigued or grumpy. Why? since alcohol has a depressive effect. But, not all alcoholic beverages are unhealthy; just be mindful of your intake. Sussman continues, “A little bit can excite you on, but too much can definitely destroy a sex drive and make it hard to orgasm.

Allowing your pet to sleep in your bed

We comprehend. The puppy-dog eyes are difficult to avoid. However, Virginia Sadock, M.D., Head of the Department in Human Sexuality at NYU Langone Medical Center, advises against bringing pets into the bedroom. In fact, your dog might gain from giving you some breathing room. Pets, like kids, don’t appreciate being left out, but Sadock observes that they dislike parental conflict even less. And since having sex helps relieve stress, shut the door for the evening.

Being a one-trick pony 

Monogamy can get boring after a while. Routines are simple to get into, especially once you find one that “works,” but restraining yourself from repeating the same moves will help keep you interested in playing again. Sussman advises doing some reading, experimenting with different body postures, or coming up with original techniques to entice your partner: “It doesn’t need to be difficult. As simple as flirting can do it.”

Always taking the kids on vacation

In a family situation, Disney World typically prevails over Aruba. Yet, a February 2013 study commissioned by the U.S. Travel Association found that couples who travel together at least once a year have more contented sexual lives. A weekend getaway might foster greater connection than meagre presents. Thus, avoid giving gifts of affection and spend more on vacations by saving your money.

Putting on your jammies

That baggy tee or prairie-chic plaid dress are probably not helping either of you feel particularly motivated. Syrtash notes that wearing gorgeous underwear can make sexual activity feel more seductive. “If you often wear granny pants to bed, try switching it up with sensuous materials that feel wonderful on your skin. You’ll feel sensual, and he’ll think it’s sexy.” Hence, everyone benefits.

Skipping the gym

Confidence doesn’t mean you should let everything go: “A moderate amount of exercise helps you build up stamina, it energises you, and it is also a fantastic method to release anxiety,” advises Sadock. The more energy you have left over to feel aroused for sex, the less energy you are expending on feeling anxious. A University of Florida research found that post-workout sex can be fantastic. Why? Even if you haven’t dropped any weight, you end up feeling more confident and liberated.

Not setting aside any “special time”

Although it may not sound romantic, organising romps in the bedroom improves them by frequently removing guilt. “It’s easy to feel like you always have something more important to be doing than having sex if you’re a really busy person, especially a stay-at-home mom or a working mom,” Sussman claims, adding that she advises arranging couples’ time at least once a week.

Passing up those small opportunities to connect

Additionally, you can revive your libido outside of the bedroom. According to Sadock, lunch dates are particularly helpful for helping couples reconnect on a deeper level. “Twenty minutes of talking — when you’re not washing the dishes, folding clothes, or watching TV — helps you reconnect with your partner on a deeper level,” she says. It’s uniquely nice because it’s a rest during the day and you’re not as worn out as you are at night.

Waiting for the appropriate time

Do it now. Seriously. The decline in oestrogen levels that occurs in women as they age, as well as after giving birth, can cause dryness in the vagina and decreased desire. Yet, starting to kiss and fondle while being out of the mood can actually turn you on. You can thank us later if you try it.

News viewing while in bed

The mood could be seriously destroyed by watching the news while in bed. The news can be downright gloomy at times, which may be negatively affecting your sex life by lowering your desire or putting you in a depressed frame of mind.

Having insufficient sleep

A weak sex desire could be caused by insufficient z’s. Changes in hormone levels result in a decrease in libido when sleep is lacking. Also, being sleep deprived can make you feel bad, which means you probably won’t be in the mood for an intimate relationship with your spouse.

Avoid letting these negative behaviours spoil your sexual life. Make an effort to keep things exciting in the bedroom and cherish that connection with your lover!

REFERENCES:

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What are the Mistakes Even Healthy People Make?

What are the Mistakes Even Healthy People Make?

You choose healthy foods, exercise (when you can), and keep an eye on your weight. That indicates your good health, right?

Not always so; many persons who are currently in excellent health have habits or convictions that may put them at risk for disease or damage in the future.

Even those who are most concerned about their health have the potential to make some mistakes. Let’s examine a few of these and make every effort to steer clear of them.

You always buy organic

For some goods, like beef or strawberries, buying organic is a good idea; but, for other things, like avocados or eggs, it doesn’t really make a difference.

Also, don’t automatically believe that just because something is organic, it must also be healthful. For one reason, organic options are typically more expensive. Moreover, sugary cereals and high-calorie, high-fat organic granola bars are just as unhealthy as their non-organic counterparts.

You don’t socialize enough

Don’t forget to check in with your friends occasionally, even though you might feel good about yourself on your long solo runs. According to studies, social media is beneficial to your health as well.

Strive to arrange frequent get-togethers with pals, whether it be for a book club meeting or a game of poker. (There’s no requirement to base it on exercise, but that’s fine.

Absence from Breakfast

Beginning your day without breakfast is similar to driving a car with minimal gasoline capacity; it may get you there for a short while, but it will quickly feel sluggish before coming to a complete stop. Every morning, you should start with a nutritious breakfast to get you ready for the day. Because your body will store fat if it doesn’t get enough nutrition in the morning to use as energy throughout the day, skipping breakfast might increase your risk of diabetes and potentially cause obesity.

Having a nutritious breakfast offers various health advantages, including raising metabolism, preserving blood sugar levels, and enhancing focus.

Sleep is compromised

Do you think going to the gym at 5 a.m. is a smart idea? According to Gary Rogg, MD, a primary care physician and assistant professor at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, you shouldn’t if you should be sleeping instead. People need at least seven hours of sleep per night for optimal health, and studies have consistently shown that getting less sleep leads to a variety of health issues, such as high blood pressure, depression, diabetes, and a weakened immunological response to vaccinations.

You lack supplement savvy

When it comes to vitamins and supplements, more is not always better, and having too much of a good thing can be dangerous.

In 2011, data on approximately 40,000 women were analysed, and it was discovered that those who took nutritional supplements, particularly iron, were actually at higher risk for

marginally increased risk of death, but the researchers weren’t sure why. Dr. Rogg claims that there are no very extensive studies that conclusively demonstrate the advantages of taking vitamin and mineral supplements. “Use the suggested daily doses while taking supplements, and take them in moderation.”

You get unnecessary tests

When it comes to medical tests, more is not necessarily better, just like with vitamins and minerals. Particularly exams that are promoted to customers directly, like the heart calcium scoring test. Dr. Rogg explains that while this test, a CT scan that looks for calcium deposits in the cardiac arteries, is helpful for some at-risk individuals, it isn’t appropriate for everyone. The equivalent of 25 to 50 chest X-rays worth of radiation is also exposed to you in this process.

A campaign called ChoosingWisely has been started by a number of US medical specialty groups to highlight the overuse of 45 medical tests and to urge doctors to steer clear of procedures and tests that may not be as beneficial as they claim to be.

Exercising Too Much

You should exercise more if you have more time, right? Wrong. Too much exercise can really work against your fitness and health. A weakened immune system, muscular injury, shin splints, and aberrant hormone changes can all result from overworking your body (which can cause weight gain.) It goes without saying that exercise should play a significant role in your daily life. But, it’s crucial to avoid overdoing it.

Your body needs time to heal, so give it that time. You may notice a lack of development, develop more ailments or illnesses, struggle with a lack of drive, or have trouble falling asleep as some telltale indicators that you may be overtraining.

Suddenly Stopping Medicines

Many of us have made this decision on our own, stopping the medication we were prescribed when we began to feel better and then wondering why we ended up feeling worse. Depending on the drug you have been taking, abruptly discontinuing it can have mild to major health effects. By choosing to stop taking your medication, you run the risk of experiencing headaches, a recurrence of the condition you were treating, and in more extreme circumstances, seizures.

The basic message is that discontinuing some medications suddenly might be dangerous, therefore you should only stop taking medication when your doctor instructs you to.

You’re Stressed Out

Make a list of everything that is causing you tension and write it down. This is one of the best techniques to rapidly reduce stress. You should include tasks you have to complete, worries on your mind, and anything else you feel raises your stress level. Once everything is written down, arrange it like a to-do list and begin tackling each issue one at a time. By doing this, you’ll be able to relieve your stress and get your body moving to deal with each problem.

REFERENCES:

  • https://www.health.com/weight-loss/27-mistakes-healthy-people-make
  • https://www.realbuzz.com/articles-interests/health/article/10-health-mistakes-that-everyone-makes/
  • https://www.thedailystar.net/health/healthcare/news/neonatal-danger-signs-are-new-mothers-aware-enough-3250181
  • https://sixworkout.com/5-dumb-mistakes-healthy-people-make/

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