Afternoon Crisis at Work - 5 Ways To Avoid It

Nobody can be equally productive 8 hours a day. During the working day, we experience moments of increased energy and concentration as well as the so-called crises - moments when our body needs time to regenerate.

How to deal with them?

Some people find it better to work in the morning, others find it difficult to concentrate before 1 p.m. This is due to personal predispositions, lifestyle, nature of work, environment, and other factors. For many people productivity curve has the shape of a sine wave - we experience an increase in the morning and the peak occurs around noon, and that's when we can do as much welding as possible, and concentrate on the task. Then there is a drastic drop in productivity during the day. We become sleepy, we cannot focus on the task at hand, we are just tired, and our mood is lowered.

 

There are methods that help combat this afternoon crisis at work, increase the mobilization of the body and concentrate again. First of all, let's allow ourselves to rest. Let's take advantage of the statutory break at work to take care of the body and mind.

 

Have a healthy lunch 

A healthy lunch is essential. We have to fuel the body to function! It should be of high quality, i.e. rich in nutrients, in particular magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, B vitamins, vitamin C, D, and omega-3 fatty acids. The products positively influencing the employee's productivity, concentration, and cognitive abilities include nuts and seeds, green vegetables, rice, eggs, legumes, dark chocolate, citrus fruits, avocado, sweet potatoes, and salmon.

 

Drink water

Dehydration is one of the common causes of headaches. It also causes a feeling of tiredness, and weariness lowers the mood and has a negative effect on the work of the whole organism. If during the day we only drink coffee in the morning and another in the afternoon - it is definitely too little to meet the needs of our body! To remember to replenish fluids regularly, you can install a special application on your phone or simply set several alarms.

 

Go for a walk 

The crisis is a signal from the body that we need a break. If possible, let's change the environment for a moment - let's go for a short walk (if allowed in our work), and if we have to stay in the workplace - let's take a walk in the corridor. It's all about movement and taking your mind off your previous activities. Even a short walk is extremely valuable when working in front of a monitor. Thanks to it, we improve circulation, regenerate our eyesight and rest mentally.

 

Stand while you work

Many people think that working while sitting does not burden the body - it is not true. Spending many hours in one position, and not necessarily in the most optimal one, with the spine straightened and the arms and feet supported, we unconsciously tense our muscles. There may be cramps, and pain indicative of overstrain. That is why many people working in front of the computer praise standing desks. Carrying out tasks in this way takes some getting used to, so if you think about changing positions - e.g. as part of a home office - it is worth getting a standing and sitting desk with adjustable height.

 

If such equipment is beyond our reach, we should remember to make good use of the statutory 5-minute breaks in front of the monitor. Let us stand, even for a moment, stretch, and let's do a few head circles.

 

Listen to productivity music

Scientists have long known that music affects the work of the brain. Already in the mid-twentieth century, research was carried out on the so-called Mozart effect. The research of the French doctor Alfred Tomatis has proven that Mozart's music stimulates the cerebral cortex and, as a result, helps to concentrate, improves memory, and the ability to think abstractly and creatively. Since then, scientists have repeatedly studied the effect of classical music on the body - calm tones, with a not too high a frequency of beats per minute, lower blood pressure, and stress, help in concentration and increase motivation. It is worth taking advantage of the beneficial effects of music on the body. 

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