Feeling tired and lethargic at work? We know how it feels. Lack of energy, your batteries are low, no gas left in the tank!
The reasons for this are varied. Perhaps you haven’t been sleeping well, something is worrying you, you’re working too hard and need time off. We all suffer occasional bouts of tiredness. Regardless of the reasons, nonetheless we’ve compiled 5 ways for you to combat tiredness, to perk you up and back to feeling alert again.
Grab that extra-strong coffee and let’s dive in…
1. Fresh Air
If you’re sitting at your desk, and barely able to function, go to the nearest window and open it up, get some nice fresh air into the room. A good dose of fresh air clears your head, increases energy levels, boosts mental efficiency, and generally makes you feel better. While the fresh air is circulating around the room, take a few deep breaths and get it into your lungs, which will lower your heart rate, and generally bring about a sense of well-being that will leave lethargy behind.
2. Easy On The Sugar
It’s a widely-believed myth that consuming sugar will increase energy and give you that ‘boost’ needed to overcome drowsiness. While this is ostensibly true, what many people fail to realize is that immediate energy uptick is highly temporary, lasting only a short period of time, following which comes the inevitable ‘crash’ when your body’s elevated energy levels sharply return to normal, which will leave you feeling even more tired than before! It’s better to not take any extra sugar at all if you’re feeling tired, and be mindful that what you eat or drink doesn’t have high sugar levels in them.
3. Have A Walk
Highly effective as a counter to lethargic feelings, walking increases blood flow, provides good exercise, and makes you feel alert. Instead of sitting during your lunch break, go outside and take a walk, even a short walk of around 10 minutes or so will have you returning to work feeling alive again!
4. Stay Hydrated
One reason for lethargy is lack of hydration, your body isn’t getting enough fluid intake to be functioning better. Drink lots of fluid during the day, but not caffeine. Starting the day with a cup of tea or coffee is fine but too much during the day may make you over-stimulated and affect your sleep. Keeping a bottle of water beside you at work and taking occasional sips should keep you hydrated and feel more alert.
5. Get A Good Night’s Rest
Nothing makes you feel more run down than lack of rest. It’s crucial you get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night for you to function at peak performance. If you’re not sleeping well, figure out why, and adjust accordingly. You need rest every night, and if you get this, you should feel so much better throughout the next day.
Feeling constantly lethargic at work may make you start wondering if you are even enjoying your job and perhaps thinking of looking elsewhere for more engaging opportunities, but it may just be a temporary blip. We all have spells of tiredness but if you address them correctly, you should be back to full health and alertness very soon.
