Dump Your P.M. Slump

By Doug Donaldson

Ugh. Midafternoon. The late-day doldrums can add stress. Get quick relief by trying some slump-busting techniques for the home or office.

Laugh
Chortles raise your endorphin levels and make you feel better right away.

• At the office: Comedian Judy Carter, author of The Comedy Bible and a corporate speaker, suggests doing something lighthearted like singing a silly song. Or take a break with a coworker who makes you laugh.
• At home: "Talk back to your television," Carter says. "Don't just talk, yell! Soon enough, you'll be cracking yourself up and feeling better."
  

Stretch
Simple stretches and self-massage techniques will revitalize you in as little as five minutes.

• At the office: Lynne Walters, author of KindTouch Massage: Self-Massage for Health and Well-Being, recommends stowing a tennis ball under your desk. Slip off your shoes and roll the ball over your foot as you press down. No one will realize you're getting a massage.
• At home: Sit quietly for 20 minutes. Take eight deep breaths, exhaling tension. Find and rub tender spots; brush your hands over your body from head to toe.

Hydrate
Reach for water or other caffeine-free drinks. "Caffeine only temporarily blocks the signals that let you know you're tired," says James D. Lane, Ph.D., associate research professor in psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.

• At the office: Sip water with lemon, fruit juice, or herbal tea. Peppermint tea is especially invigorating.
• At home: Whip up a fruit smoothie. The mix of complex carbohydrates and simple sugars in the fruit will energize you.

Hike
Even a few minutes of walking will perk you up and sanp you out of the doldrums.

• At the office: Walk to a coworker's office to talk instead of sending an e-mail. To really get a boost, walk the stairs a few times.
• At home: "Get outside for some fresh air and sunlight instead of staying inside under artificial light," says Elisabetta Politi, a registered dietitian at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center in Durham, North Carolina. Take a cruise around the block or do some gardening.

Snack
Because you haven't eaten for a few hours, blood glucose and alertness are low.

• At the office: Rev up with a snack such as an 8-ounce cup of yogurt and half of an energy bar, Politi says. A handful of nuts works, too. Avoid sweets from the vending machines. You'll just crash again in an hour.
• At home: Try a bowl of whole grain cereal with low-fat milk or peanut butter on whole wheat toast.