Surviving the Postprandial Energy Dip

If you typically feel the postprandial urge to nap in your desk chair, you're not alone. According to The New York Times, it is natural for us to want to go to sleep about 7 hours after we wake. While this phenomenon is common, it affects each of us differently, with 15-20% of us unable to resist a few minutes of shut-eye. Since the last time that most of us were encouraged to take an after-lunch nap was kindergarten, we rely on alternatives to get ourselves over the hump. For some this means reaching for sugar or caffeine. But there are other options to help stay alert such as meeting with a colleague or stretching at your desk. Ultimately, it's best to address the underlying factors of fatigue which involve getting the right amount of sleep at night and waking up at the same time each morning.