Late afternoon energy slump

Ronni

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
For the past month or so my energy has been really lagging later in the day.

Ron has always referred to me as the Energizer Bunny, because I just go and go! šŸ¤£ And that's typically the case. I'm a doer, and I don't stop, and I like it that way!

But recently I've found myself losing steam and feeling exhausted towards the end of the day. I am literally struggling to stay awake behind the wheel on my way home from work, and by the time I get home I'm ready for bed! After work we sit together and have a drink before dinner, just to segue from the work day to evening, but a few times now I'm dozing on the couch by the time Ron comes from the kitchen with our drinks. Or I'll snuggle up to him when he sits down, and suddenly it's an hour later....I've fallen asleep within seconds!

I've looked at my diet and supplements in case I changed something, but there's nothing really notable. I've been focusing on getting more protein recently but that shouldn't have this effect. I added zinc and more C to my supplements 3 months ago, but can find no connection there either.

I'm tweaking my diet some to include more energy inducing foods with a lower Glycemic index, and I should probably go see my doctor, or at least talk to her.

Anyone else experience this and if so what did you do about it?
 

I never have to look at the clock to know it's about 3:00 pm. My eyes just want to close and my brain shuts down for about a half hour. It's just my "down" period of the day. I don't think there's anything wrong with having a cat nap. It kind of revitalizes me for the rest of the day.
 
caroln said:
I never have to look at the clock to know it's about 3:00 pm. My eyes just want to close and my brain shuts down for about a half hour. It's just my "down" period of the day. I don't think there's anything wrong with having a cat nap. It kind of revitalizes me for the rest of the day.
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Ron could win awards for his ability to nap whenever he feels like it!! I'm not the napping sort, never have been, and neither have I ever before run out of energy like this. Because this is different, not something in the normal range for me, I'm curious what's causing it.
 

Maybe your blood sugar drops around the late afternoon. Or you have been very stressed at work and your body is saying, enough is enough, I need to rest.

Edit: I just noticed you're from Nashville. It could be driving home in the horrible Nashville traffic stresses you out! I've been there during rush hour a couple times. Kissed the ground when I got home!
 
Same here. I feel it about 2:30- and I get up early, no job. Working--writing on the PC is tiring.
I have a cup of instant, keeps me going until dinner. And exercising makes me more tired, if I do it.
Nap, don't exercise.
 
My exhaustion period is for about three hours after wake up then I am able to ease into the day.
 
I have trouble staying awake after Supper. I plop down in the recliner after the meal, turn on the TV, and unless there is a really interesting show, I usually wind up "snoozing" for a half hour, or more.
 
I think it's perfectly normal to feel sleepy in the afternoon. I find I actually sleep better at night if I have a nap during the day.
 
caroln said:
Maybe your blood sugar drops around the late afternoon.
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Occasionally I have this happen. As soon as I eat a snack, I feel better. You could keep something handy for your drive, maybe a candy, and also make a doctor appointment.
 
I am definitely a morning person and have been so for all my life. That is because I get up either 4 or 5 am every day of the week. I still have a lot of "get up and go" for a couple of hours in the morning but I get a bit sluggish in the afternoon. By 4 pm I need my "beauty rest." If I didn't get it I would never be able to stay awake to watch my "Gunsmoke" DVDs and that would be a shame for me! You know that Irish song or is it a fiddle tune, "Whiskey Before Breakfast?" For me, it's "Gunsmoke" before bedtime. LOL
 
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I wake up late, eat lunch at noon, go the gym at 1pm and walk by the lake at 3pm if the weather is conducive. At around 4pm I lay on the couch and watch TV. It is at that time that my head starts to bob and I can't stay awake. I have lots of energy up until that time. You're not alone. As to what to do about it, I just nod off!
 
caroln said:
Maybe your blood sugar drops around the late afternoon. Or you have been very stressed at work and your body is saying, enough is enough, I need to rest.

Edit: I just noticed you're from Nashville. It could be driving home in the horrible Nashville traffic stresses you out! I've been there during rush hour a couple times. Kissed the ground when I got home!
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LOL. Traffic is bad here. Not as bad as some other places I've lived (like Los Angeles) but still. Happily though I have an alternate route than the main freeway and my drive is usually easy. It's a 30 minute commute, but it flows well and at speed, except for two predictable areas, short duration, where the speed slows to around 30 mph right before the exit, then immediately picks back up.

Update to my original post: I did some tweaking to my diet. I'd been eating an abundance of protein becuase Ron needed to up his intake and so I started making high protein meals and keeping high protein snacks around. Nothing wrong with that, but in the process, I'd lowered my intake of both complex carbs and green veggies. Not a lot, but it threw off the balance of those nutrients in my system, and coincidentally raised the Glycemic Index in my diet. Clearly it had an ill-effect, because as soon as I restored that balance, focused on low GI foods, added some whole wheat and/or complex carb items, and made sure I was eating a balance of protein, carbs and fats at each meal or snack, and BAM! My afternoon slump has lessened considerably! Some days there is none at all!

It continues to be amazing to me what a strong effect my daily diet has on me. I mean it makes sense....what we eat is what fuels our bodies, and if the fuel inferior for our unique body type, then the body performance will also suffer. Lesson learned...for the umpteenth time!!!
 
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