This is the worst time of the day. Early afternoon, lunch is digesting, 6 hours have passed since waking up, the wind is blowing. More often than not, it's around now that I find myself leaning a bit more in my chair, closing my eyes just for a second, drifting off to sleep. Nodding off now and then jolting up when someone opens a door or when the printer warms up. It's like that 8:30 4th year database class all over again, except back then no one really cared if you fell asleep.

How does one avoid this afternoon slump? Coffee, of course, but I've been trying actively to have less of that lately, and only go get myself one if absolutely necessary. Even then it doesn't alway do the trick. What I have been drinking lately is tea, and lots of it. It's often not good enough though. Tea doesn't have that jolting sensation that coffee does. It's more of a slow, warm fuzziness that is as liable to put me asleep as it is to waking me up.

Sometimes, I take naps at lunch, but these usually amount to only 30 minutes or so. I'll either prop my legs up on the desk and lean back in my chair or stretch out over the conference table. While it IS refreshing to take that nap, I always wish I could sleep a good 90 mins midday. Some little things that I've found that help a little bit each: Sitting up in the chair, eating a smaller lunch, listening to more energetic music, doing work (this is actually the best thing to do, and also the hardest!). Things not to do: Reading GAF (this is such a mentally passive activity, it can very easily do me in)