A person’s afternoon schedule often determines whether they have a great day or not. Right after lunch, many people start to feel lazy or unproductive.
Yet, what if we told you that by doing a few simple things in the afternoon, you can completely change your mood and feel better?
Psychology and human behavior studies show that a person’s mood can depend on their surroundings and habits.
So if you start doing beneficial things after noon, you will be able to lift your overall mood. Also, by making small changes to your daily afternoon routine, you’ll be able to condition yourself to not feel so sluggish.
9 Simple Things to Do After Noon To Feel Better Instantly
1. Go For a Walk
Going for a walk after lunch is one of the easiest things you can do to benefit your health. Walking has been proven to have many great benefits.
Not only will going on a walk clear your head, but it will also boost your mood. Going for a short walk increases blood flow to help you digest your food. It also helps boost your energy if you’re feeling tired and can help you be more productive.
Walking can also help spark your creativity. When you go on a walk, your brain enters a state that allows you to come up with new ideas. Getting out of your work environment can help you look at things from a different perspective.
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2. Drink Water
Drinking water helps you stay energized and focused throughout the day. Most people don’t drink enough water and end up feeling sluggish and unfocused, and even develop headaches.
Our bodies use water for numerous processes like controlling body temperature and carrying nutrients to our cells. That is why it is so important to stay hydrated throughout the day.
To help you remember to drink water, set reminders on your phone. You can use an app that tracks how much water you drink or set alarms every hour as a reminder to take a few sips.
If you don’t like the taste of water, add some flavor to it. You can also try eating foods high in water content.
Food like cucumbers, watermelon, and oranges not only hydrate you, but also contain vitamins your body needs. Try combining all of these tips to stay hydrated and watch how you’ll feel more focused and energized all day.
If you find yourself slumping after lunch, drink some water. Many people feel more tired or less focused after lunch due to dehydration.
So next time you start feeling sluggish, drink a glass of water and watch your energy levels soar.
Read Also: 5 Daily Habits That Completely Transformed My Life
3. Stretch
Taking 5 minutes to stretch can benefit you in more ways than one. Not only does it help keep you healthy, but it can help release tension you’ve built up during the morning.
The later it gets in the day, the more your body will ache if you’ve been sitting at a desk all day. Stretching can help relieve that discomfort.
One benefit of stretching after noon is that it will help your flexibility. Our flexibility is important to help our muscles stay elongated, but as we age we tend to lose our flexibility.
By stretching throughout the day, you can help prevent your body from losing flexibility. Stretching also helps your blood flow, which can help increase blood flow and oxygenate your muscles for a boost of energy.
You can do some stretches right at your desk! Try reaching for the ceiling or stretching your arms to the side while sitting down. You can also do a “neck stretch” by pulling your neck to each side to relieve tension.
Neck stretches are great because you can do them throughout the day wherever you are.
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4. Set a Goal
Setting goals after lunch is a great way to feel more productive. When you set a goal for yourself, you are giving your mind something to focus on.
Your goal should be attainable and something that you know you can finish before the day is over. Maybe you have a homework assignment that you could finish or a report that you could write.
You could even organize your desk! Once you choose something to do, decide how long you’ll allow yourself to work on that task. You will be surprised at how much more focused you will be when you give yourself a deadline.
After you finish your goal, you’ll feel accomplished and ready to take on more. Little accomplishments like these will help you build confidence in yourself.
The more you praise yourself for finishing small tasks, the more you’ll want to take on bigger projects. By setting little goals for yourself, you’ll be able to feel more productive during the second half of your day.
Read Also: 30 Gratitude Prompts to Help You See the Bright Side of Life
5. Listen to Music
Listening to music can help improve your mood and help you focus better. Studies have shown that music can affect how you feel.
Listening to happy music can make you feel happier and more energized. Put on some of your favorite tunes and see how motivated you feel while working.
Not only can music help improve your mood, but it can also help you become more productive. Listening to music can be a great motivator.
It distracts you from things that may be stressing you out and allows you to look at things with a more positive mind state. When you start to feel down in the afternoon, crank up the music.
Make a playlist of happy or upbeat songs that you enjoy listening to. Mix in some older songs that you know will make you happy along with some new songs that make you want to dance.
Play around with tempos and listen to some fast-paced music as well as slow melodic songs. Music can also help you focus, so don’t turn your music up too loud.
Studies show that listening to music at a moderate level can help you be more productive while not distracting you.
6. Take a Screen Break
We spend so much time on our phones, computers, and tablets these days that they start to overload our brains. When you’re constantly looking at screens, you tend to become more stressed out and have a shorter attention span.
Taking a screen break can help clear your mind and allow you to relax. You’ll feel less anxious and tired after spending some time away from technology.
You will also feel more focused when you return to work. By reducing your screen time, you can also benefit your eyes. Staring at screens all day can cause eye strain, dry eyes, and can even cause you to have trouble sleeping.
Instead of looking at your phone, go for a walk! Walking is not only good for your physical health but can also help clear your mind. If you don’t have time to go for a walk, pick up a hobby that you can hone in on when you’re feeling bored.
Doodling, playing an instrument, and drawing are great ways to distract yourself from your phone.
7. Reach Out to Someone
Spending time with others is important in everybody’s lives. Whether you contact your best friend or your mom, taking the time to talk to someone can boost your mood.
Taking five minutes out of your day to check in with someone will not only make your day more enjoyable, but it will also help you strengthen your relationship with that person.
You can call your BFF or send your mom a text saying, “Hey! How’s your day going?” You never know, maybe you’ll catch her at a good time and you’ll be able to talk about how your day was.
Technology these days makes it easy to not only call someone but also see them through video. You can call your friends instead of texting them and have a face-to-face conversation without leaving your house.
If you choose to send a text or call someone, make sure you actually listen to what they have to say. Ask them questions and encourage them to open up to you as well.
When having conversations with others, make sure you show them appreciation. You can thank them for taking time out of their day to talk to you and simply praise them.
8. Eat a Healthy Snack
I always find that my energy levels are at an all-time low during the afternoon. Eating a healthy snack not only helps me get through the rest of my day, but it also helps me stay focused.
When you eat nutritious snacks, you’re putting good stuff into your body that will help fuel you throughout the day. Eating healthy snacks has also been shown to balance your blood sugar levels.
Instead of reaching for that bag of chips, grab some almonds. Pair your almonds with some fruit to give your body some healthy fats, protein, and carbs.
Greek yogurt with berries is another great option because it contains protein and antioxidants. Hummus and whole grain crackers are a great option to give you energy throughout your day.
They contain fiber which will keep you full and are a great snack to have in the afternoon.
If you’re looking for a quick snack, try carrot sticks with peanut butter. The peanut butter will give you some healthy fats and protein to keep you going.
Smoothies are also a great quick snack you can make. Try blending up some spinach, banana, and a scoop of protein powder for a healthy snack that will keep you energized.
Try preparing some healthy snacks at the beginning of the week. This will help you grab a quick snack instead of reaching for something unhealthy.
9. Reflect on your Day
Reflecting on your day can help you better yourself as a person. By taking a few minutes to think about how your day went, you can start to notice both the good and bad things you do.
Not only will this help you pay more attention to your actions, but it will also allow you to understand your feelings better.
One way you can reflect on your day is by journaling. By writing down how your day went, you can look back on it. Journaling can help you notice patterns in the way you act.
You’ll be able to pat yourself on the back for all of the things you did right that day and realize what things you need to work on more.
Another way you can reflect on your day is by asking yourself questions at the end of the day. You can ask yourself, “What went well today?” and “What could I do differently tomorrow?”
Conclusion
Spend time thinking about what you did today and how you felt about it. There are many benefits to sitting down and reflecting on your day.
Whether you decide to journal, ask yourself questions, or practice mindfulness, you can improve who you are as a person and live a happier life.
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