A sleep expert has revealed the real reasons why you’re tired in the afternoon, and the remedies and products that will help you to fix your 3pm slump for good.
Olivia Arezzolo, from Sydney, said there are many reasons behind your tiredness, from anxiety to insufficient sleep, a boozy dinner or back-to-back meetings.
The expert revealed how to re-energise without compromising your sleep later on.
A sleep expert has revealed the reasons why you’re tired in the afternoon, and the remedies that will help you to fix your 3pm slump for good (Olivia Arezzolo pictured)
Alcohol is one of the biggest causes of the 3pm slump, and while you may love drinking wine with dinner, Olivia (pictured) said it’s not good for us or our working lives
Reason one: Anxiety
The first reason why Olivia said you might be continually tired in the afternoon is because you’re struggling with anxiety.
‘If you’re anxious all day, it’s no surprise that by 3pm, you’re exhausted,’ Olivia told FEMAIL.
‘Research shows that anxiety increases cortisol – a stimulating hormone. In small doses, this helps to increase energy, attention and concentration.
‘However, if cortisol stays high for too long, it drains your energy reserves, leaving you flat.’
If you think you’re struggling with anxiety and need to cure it, Olivia said you should consider trying Kava, such as Fijikava Noble Sleep.
‘Studies show it can counter the effects of high cortisol, because it heightens a calming hormone called GABA,’ Olivia said.
This will mean less anxiety and less of a 3pm slump.
If you continually have late nights and early mornings, it should be no wonder why you’re experiencing a slump: you haven’t had your 7-9 hours of shut-eye, Olivia (pictured) said
Reason two: Insufficient sleep
If you continually have late nights and early mornings, it should be no wonder why you’re experiencing a slump: you haven’t had your 7-9 hours of shut-eye.
But it’s not just tiredness you’ll struggle with at 3pm with this, but also silly mistakes.
Olivia highlighted that the Sleep Health Foundation have found that 29 per cent of all workplace errors are attributed to fatigue alone.
The antidote to a lack of sleep around 3pm is a well-timed nap.
‘Aim for 30 minutes, before 5pm and wear a 100 per cent light blocking sleep mask such as Dreamlight,’ she said.
NASA research has found that a good afternoon nap taken at the right time can boost your productivity by as much as 34 per cent.
Reason three: Last night’s boozy dinner
Alcohol is one of the biggest causes of the 3pm slump, and while you may love drinking wine with dinner, Olivia said it’s not good for us or our working lives.
‘It dehydrates us, which can impair focus and energy by 50 per cent according to recent research,’ Olivia said.
It is also formulated with the by product of acetalhyde, which can make the stomach more acidic and leave you even more fatigued.
‘Apart from reining in your festivities, one strategy to remedy dehydration, acidity and subsequent fatigue is alkaline water like Alkalife,’ Olivia explained.
The reason why this works is because alkaline water contains bicarbonate and calcium, which can help to reduce acidity in the stomach.
Ginkgo can help you to memorise and recall facts accurately, if you struggle with back-to-back meetings and feel as though you have brain fog by 3pm
Reason four: Back-to-back meetings
Back-to-back meetings in the morning can have many struggling to remember any details by the afternoon.
But Olivia said gingko is key to helping you out here.
‘This powerful antioxidant can help you to memorise and recall facts accurately,’ she said.
‘Ginkgo can improve attention span and overall cognitive performance – two more factors often compromised after a long morning at work.’
Olivia is a particular fan of the high strength option Fusion Health Ginkgo 6000, and she recommends you take it daily – whether you’re working or not.
Finally, excessive screen time is likely to be causing your exhaustion, and this is often down to digital eyestrain, Olivia (pictured) saod
Reason five: Excessive screen time
Finally, excessive screen time is likely to be causing your exhaustion, and this is often down to digital eyestrain.
‘Symptoms of digital eyestrain include sore eyes, difficulty focusing and headaches,’ Olivia said.
‘This largely stems from overexposure to blue light, emitted from devices such as your phones.’
While the sleep expert knows that avoiding your phone completely is not an option, she recommends you get a blue light blocking screen protector such as Light Shield.
‘Studies show this can reduce the likelihood of digital eye strain – which may be the reason you’re suffering at 3pm,’ Olivia said.
For more information about Olivia Arezzolo, please visit her website here.
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