What is afternoon fatigue that several people experience everyday? All you need to know about this condition

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Feeling tired during afternoon? This is a common issue people deal with when the body suffers a low-energy level point in the day. Here’s why this may be happening.

It is 1 pm in the day and the body has already started to slouch. We might start the day on a high not but what is it in the afternoon that we feel tired, lazy, sleepy? Why suddenly does a nap feels a guilty pleasure? Science has the answer.
This is called as ‘mid-day slump’ or ‘afternoon fatigue.’ Afternoon is the time of the day when majority of people take a back seat to refresh for the evening. And yes, several of us experience this which is technically a completely normal physiological experience.
What is Afternoon Fatigue?
Circadian rhythm and sleep pressure are two aspects that may dictate why one may or may not feel sleepy and tired in the afternoon. Circadian rhythm is basically body’s internal clock that is responsible for regulating physical, mental, behavioural changes in a person in 24 hours of the day. This dictates body when to sleep and when to be awake.
Sleep pressure is the about body’s need to sleep the longer we are awake. Sleep pressure is lowest when we wake up in the morning and are charged. As the day unfolds, more wakeful hours slowly inrcease body’s pressure to take a nap. A report by The New York Times quoted, “During the afternoon slump, those two forces — sleep pressure and circadian rhythms — are essentially “fighting each other,” according to Dr. Ravi Allada, executive director of the Michigan Neuroscience Institute at the University of Michigan. Therefore, when we feel drowsy, it means that the sleep pressure is dominating the circadian rhythm.
This slump in energy levels can be worse when the body is deprived of sleep, or when one has an erratic bedtime schedule. According to scientist, food does not a play direct role in this however, sugary food, refined carbs can impact the dip and leave a feeling of lethargy.
How to Manage Afternoon Slump?
- Replace sugary breakfast option with healthy alternatives like whole grain oatmeal, eggs etc.
- A way to get instant relief is a 15-20 minute power nap and not more. Or else, you may feel groggy.
- Focus on small tasks and goals like reading your mail box, sorting little routine tasks etc.
- Some physical movement like a small stroll can bring alertness and concentration.
Afternoon fatigue is everyone’s part of day. While some may ascribe it to being lazy, lethargic, it is all of this and more! Sleep deprivation, imbalance in sleep cycles and carb-rich diet may impact the severity of this.
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