(NC) We all know how challenging it can be to stay energetic at work. By Monday night, you are hoping it is miraculously Friday because you already feel so drained. Combat the mid-afternoon slump by integrating a few simple, healthy habits to boost your productivity.

Catch some z’s. Those who consistently get less than the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep a night may start to experience mild sleep deprivation. Start shifting your schedule to go to bed 30, 20 or even 15 minutes earlier. Making this little change will help with productivity and your overall performance.

Stay hydrated. Drinking a sufficient amount of water can alleviate the mid-afternoon slump because your heart is able to pump blood more efficiently when you are properly hydrated. Here’s a quick tip: keep a bottle on your desk to remind you to drink more water. You can even put lines on the bottle to indicate where the water level should be by a certain time to ensure that you are staying hydrated throughout the day.

Keep your eating habits in check. Small changes to your diet can benefit your overall productivity and energy levels. Consuming small meals at regular intervals throughout the day and getting enough fibre from veggies and whole grains can help keep your energy more consistent. Try keeping some quick and healthy snacks at your desk like nuts, dried fruits and microwavable popcorn. Orville Redenbacher’s new simply salted microwave popcorn is vegan certified and made with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. This whole-grain snack will satisfy your afternoon munchies without leaving you feeling sluggish.

Take exercise breaks. With busy work schedules, it becomes harder to include physical activity into our daily routines. If your office doesn’t have an attached gym, you can still make time for mini workout breaks during the day. Try scheduling walking meetings, take a couple of minutes to stretch or opt to take the stairs rather than the elevator. Remember that little changes go a long way.

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