If you get the afternoon sleepies, you are not alone. Many of us experience a lull sometime between 2 – 4 p.m. and the reasons span from eating a carb-heavy lunch, to not having enough water during the morning, to our bodies’ natural drop in core temperature during the afternoon.
So how do you combat the brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and all-out lack of energy? By grabbing another coffee, right?
SO WRONG!
Sure, coffee is delicious and it can be a nice afternoon treat (especially when mixed with Cacao Bliss and turned into my Super Healthy Coffee), but we should not train our bodies to rely on caffeine to get us through the day.
So if you slow to a crawl each afternoon, here are some natural caffeine alternatives to help you wake up.
Hint: Just remember the 2 M’s.
#1 Movement
As I love to say, movement clears out the cobwebs in your soul. It clears out the cobwebs in your brain, too.
Getting into movement pumps blood into our cells and wakes them up. It’s the quickest way I know to alter your state of being. Just a little movement can completely change your level of mental alertness and eliminate grogginess.
The trick is to not wait until you feel like moving… that time may never come. You must step into movement without getting caught up in making sure everything is right. You know what I mean: the right time, the right place, the right type of workout, the right supplies, the right clothes, etc. Leave all that behind and just get up and move in ways that light you up. Dancing, walking, stretching, HIIT training — it all counts.
Bonus: The more you start moving, the more your body will crave it. Soon it will become a natural part of your day and you may find those afternoon doldrums no longer plague you.
#2 Mindset
The positive effects of speaking and hearing loving, healing, and inspirational words aren’t just theoretical — they’re backed by science.
When you start to slow down in the afternoon, take some deep belly breaths to fill your cells with oxygen (most of us breathe very shallow breaths) and repeat affirmations like, “I am full of energy and focus”, “I am unstoppable”, and “I am vibrant and enthusiastic, and my energy is soaring”.
By repeating those affirmations, you shift the focus from sleepiness and lack of motivation to the positive and productive qualities you actually want to embody.
Afternoon Treat
Saying goodbye to your afternoon coffee or energy drink really can be as simple as putting into place one (or both!) of the “2 M’s” above. But if you really do love a yummy drink in the afternoon (or you tend to crave chocolate after lunch), you can turn to Cacao Bliss and get a guilt-free mood boost that’s loaded with superfoods for maximum health benefits.
From the very first cup, you’ll call in mental clarity, focus, and joy, thanks to the “bliss molecule” Cacao Bliss unlocks. It’s the perfect mid-afternoon pick-me-up that you can use on its own or as a team with movement and meditation.
Which of these tactics will you be putting to use to keep your afternoons humming? Let me know in the comments below.
You may also be interested in:
Energy Drinks are Terrible for You (It's Not Just The Caffeine)!
Is Decaf Coffee Bad for My Body?
Golden Milk – Your Summer Replacement for Coffee
