You have a big deliverable due this week and your body refuses to cooperate midday. All it wants is to nod off and call it a day. Well, solopreneurs are not the only ones trying to combat the midday slump.
The National Sleep Foundation tells us that people naturally feel dips in energy at 2 am and again at 2 pm. Night owls may feel the lull in energy a little later.
Others take advantage of this time to catnap. While a 10, 20, or 30-minute nap can help boost your energy, on the days when you can’t give in to a siesta, here are some ways you can recharge instead:
1. Squeeze in some exercise.
Go out for a walk whenever you start to feel sluggish at work. Utilize that time to do a quick errand if you like.
You can do some exercises on your desk too, like squeezing your glutes, engaging your core, and stretching.
If at all possible, get off your bum for a moment, and run up and down the stairs for at least 5 minutes. That should wake you up.
2. Do work that requires less concentration.
1 to 3 pm is not the time to get some deep concentrated work done. Tasks that require a lot of mental muscles should be reserved for your peak times. Avoid making key decisions during this time as well.
You may, however, use this time to respond to emails and clear your inbox. You can also review your budget, do an inventory, or do research. This way, you won’t be cutting down on your productivity and be frustrated about not getting work done.
3. Work your other muscles.
At 2 pm, your brain would like to rest from all the critical thinking it has been doing all morning. So switch to tasks that require body movement instead.
If you work from home, you can use this time to do chores. Instead of doing housework early in the day, reschedule it to the time block when brain fog is most likely to happen.
4. Straighten up.
Pay attention to your posture. Slouching will send you off to dreamland fast. If you want to regain your focus and energy fast, sit up straight and lean in forward almost at the edge of your chair. This sitting position shifts your gear from nap-zone to ready-to-work in a snap.
5. Add variety to your day.
If you’ve been working on the same project since morning, it’s time to switch up your tasks by 2 pm.
One of the secrets of multi-billionaire Bill Gates to avoid burning out is to avoid monotonous work. He makes sure there is always something to look forward to every day at work.
For solopreneurs, this is a good time to search for new clients, work on a smaller project, search for new prospects, or to get a headstart on a business proposal.
6. Make some phone calls.
Use this time to catch up on a family member or a solopreneur like you. Exercise caution when calling a relative or a friend as you may be headed for some long phone conversations. With that in mind, use this time for a business purpose instead.
You can call a fellow solopreneur and be each other’s support system during this lag at work and talk about any challenges you may be facing.
Another great use of this time is to make business phone calls or video calls.
7. Reorganize your space and mind.
Take a moment to clear your desk of trash and clutter. Review your goals and to-do list for the day. And then, declutter your thoughts.
Meditate or clear your mind for a few minutes. Take deep, focused breaths. Finally, put your consciousness back into your goals for the day.
It’s easy to get side-tracked with other priorities as you go through the day so taking the time to reconnect with your core helps to be mindful of what you’re going to do next.
Crushing the Midday Slump for Good
Have you ever considered how kids don’t seem to be affected by the midday slump at all? It’s even hard to get kids to take a nap in the afternoon.
If we learn from them, we’ll see that first, kids get more than adequate sleep every night. Hence, the best recourse to remain highly-efficient throughout the day is to get your 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. It helps to keep to a sleep schedule to eradicate the midday lethargy.
Second, be mindful of your hygienic practices. If you work from home, it’s easy to jump right into work when you wake up; forgetting to brush your teeth and take a shower. You’ll be surprised how much more energized you can get with a cold shower every morning.
Finally, be mindful of what you eat. Consuming a large breakfast or lunch of sleep-inducing carbs can set you up for a slow-moving afternoon. Power up with high-energy plant-based foods instead and keep your lunches light.
By paying attention to your nutrition, hygiene, and sleep, you will have the energy you need throughout the day to keep rocking your solopreneur lifestyle.
