We have all been there, come mid afternoon you feel like snoozing at your desk (not recommended if you want to keep your job!) and your focus starts to waver. You feel drained and exhausted and you find even stringing a sentence together difficult. This drop in energy is a physiological response but the good news is there are steps we can take to prevent it.

A major factor is what you eat at lunch, you need to avoid sugars and simple carbohydrates as these get absorbed into your bloodstream immediately which causes a rise in your blood sugar. Your body then secretes insulin to bring your blood sugar levels back down an hour or two after you have eaten. Candy bars and white bread are major culprits, so a meal that includes foods that give a steady and slow release of sugar into the blood stream are the best idea. Protein rich foods like meat, egg and fish are good with salad or vegetables along with a small portion of starch.

Drinking plenty of water during the day is also beneficial to your general well being. Other ways to prevent this slump is to take a walk after lunch to get your blood circulating around your body, to breathe and stretch and get more fresh air into your system.