We have all experienced the infamous afternoon slump. Your eyelids are barely able to stay open, and you have been eyeing that next cup of coffee for easily an hour. At this point, you would even consider one of those energy drinks to give you a little pick-me-up to get you through the day. While I am all for a delicious cup of coffee, sugar or caffeine will not help you get your energy back to make it through the rest of the day. Whether you have been in a slump for days, weeks, or just during the afternoon, here are some simple tips to help you get your energy back:

Healthy Snacks = Energy

If you work in an office, avoid the vending machine at all costs. That chocolate bar may be calling your name, but it's pure trickery I tell you. Refined or high fructose sugar-laden snacks may give you an initial boost, but that energy runs out faster, making that energy dive feel even worse. Fruit's mixture of natural sugars work at an even keel helping you to avoid the ups and downs energy. Eating a protein-packed lunch will also help you to avoid that afternoon crash as protein takes longer to break down in the body.  Check out post regarding lowering your A1c, which is chock full of info on the right way to eat.

Beauty Sleep is Essential

OK, this is a no-brainer. If you don't get enough sleep, you will just be plain tired. Maybe you are a creative like I am, and your brain is running full speed late into the night preventing you from slumber. I've had to learn that less sleep will mean my creative brain will work sluggishly the next day and less than 7 hours of rest also packs on the pounds. It's just not worth that extra hour or two of staying awake. Put down the phone, stay away from your computer, turn down the lights in your living room and get cozy on the couch. I guarantee you'll relax a lot faster and thank yourself in the morning. (Follow these sleep tips, too.)

Get a Move On

If you work at a sedentary job, make sure you are getting up and moving around regularly throughout the day. Park further away in the lot to add more steps to your walk. Walk the parking lot at lunch. Use a standing desk (they make kits that fit right on your regular desk without any installation needed.) You don’t have to do a full-blown Jillian Michaels Style workout each day, but you need to get up and get your circulation going.

Light It Up

Ditch the blinds in your home and opt for black out curtains that you can slide open each morning, allowing for more natural light to come through. Sunlight naturally energizes you. If you work in an office, try to take breaks and lunch outdoors or in an area of the building with more windows. This is even more important during the Fall and Winter when Season Affective Disorder occurs due to the reduced amount of daylight.

Elevate with Music

Pop in your earbuds or, if you work from your home office, put Alexa on full blast. Create a playlist full of heart pumping songs that is sure to get you tapping your feet and lights that fire back up in your mind. So you don't need energy drinks or candy to give yourself an afternoon boost, instead try to make some adjustments with a little planning and healthy eating and you'll feel immediate results. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Or check out our natural bath and body line!

(Photo credit: M Cushion)

Does the hustle of daily life keep you moving from the moment you wake up until you collapse into bed at night? Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to keep stress in check. Here are five proven stress reducers, making it possible for you to juggle many responsibilities without losing peace of mind: 1. Disconnect from Your Devices Mobile devices have transformed the workday from 9 - 5 to 24/7. A critical component of managing stress is turning off the noise - and that means closing your laptop and putting your cell phone on silent for a while every day. If work simply can't wait, schedule a specific time to catch up - perhaps an hour after dinner. Handle only urgent items, and make a commitment to shut down when the hour is up. 2. Commit to a Meditation Practice Feelings of stress start in the mind when there is simply too much to process comfortably. Meditation is the art of clearing your head by focusing your thoughts on the present moment. Otherwise known as mindfulness, meditation supports you in putting past events to rest, while easing worry and anxiety about the future. 3. Take a Yoga, Tai Chi or Qigong Class These ancient arts have been a cornerstone of Eastern wellness and alternative medicine for thousands of years. Practitioners experience a reduction in stress as a result of the physical activity, in addition to the relaxation that comes with clearing the mind of racing thoughts. 4. Make Time for Journaling Writing out your hopes and dreams - along with the issues causing you anxiety - has been proven effective in stress reduction over and over again. Journaling helps to reduce the intensity of strong feelings, taking the sting out so you can release them and move on. 5. Schedule a Massage Touch is a proven stress-reducer and massage has become an essential for good health, not an extravagance. I'm all about getting to the spa as often as you can as a part of making wellness a priority in your life (my recent float therapy was amazing.) But this is also real life and sometimes it's not always possible due to scheduling or finances. That's why I use my M Cushion, an at home shiatsu massage cushion. (IT IS AMAZING.) Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!