1. Tap Your Thymus(01 of11)
Open Image Modal2. Get Some Sun(02 of11)
Open Image ModalIt's not surprising you feel tired when you're stuck inside a cold office with fluorescent lighting. Sneak outside to soak up some sunshine for 15 to 20 minutes.
"Sunlight energizes and elevates mood," says Dr. Lorraine Maita, a board certified internist and author of Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger and Healthier in Short Hills, New Jersey. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9bd4fde4b03a1dcc7a9895" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="19" data-vars-position-in-unit="19">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/free-stock/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" Public Domain Photos" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9bd4fde4b03a1dcc7a9895" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/free-stock/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="20" data-vars-position-in-unit="20"> Public Domain Photos</a>)
3. Sip Some Green Tea(03 of11)
Open Image ModalIf coffee is your go-to solution for the afternoon slump, try swapping out your cup of Joe for green tea. "Green tea has small amounts of caffeine, and there are many noted studies that demonstrate that EGCG, the active compound in green tea, facilitates weight loss," says Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, who specializes in integrative medicine in Miami Beach, Florida.
So in addition to boosting energy level, you might burn some extra calories! A study by Japanese researchers found that participants who consumed 690mg of catechins from green tea daily had significantly lower body mass indexes and smaller waist measurements than those in a control group. Green tea in the afternoon is also less likely to interfere with your sleep schedule since it has less caffeine than coffee per ounce. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9bd4fde4b03a1dcc7a9895" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="17" data-vars-position-in-unit="17">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/mckaysavage/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" mckaysavage" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9bd4fde4b03a1dcc7a9895" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/mckaysavage/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="18" data-vars-position-in-unit="18"> mckaysavage</a>)
4. Stand Up(04 of11)
Open Image ModalAre you reading this slumped over your computer, feeling tired at the moment? Perk up by standing up, says Moshe Lewis M.D., chief of the department of physical medicine and rehab at the California Pacific Medical Center, St. Luke's Campus, in Redwood City, California.
"Never sit too long. Vessels have a natural tendency to constrict during periods of inactivity, zapping you of energy and making you feel tired -- even if you are not sleep deprived."
Standing up and walking around even just for a few minutes is enough to jump start your heart and muscles. Plus, it can help you be more productive once you sit down at your desk again, Dr. Lewis says. (credit:Alamy)
5. Give Your Brain A Mini-Vacation(05 of11)
Open Image ModalNext time you're fighting off the urge to doze off at your desk, try blinking more often, suggests Dr. Douglas N. Graham, author of The 80/10/10 Diet. "When reading, watching television, viewing the computer, or otherwise engaged, blink 10 to 20 times per minute, rather than staring at the screen or page without blinking at all. Your brain takes a mini-vacation with each blink." (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9bd4fde4b03a1dcc7a9895" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="15" data-vars-position-in-unit="15">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lisadragon/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" lisadragon" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9bd4fde4b03a1dcc7a9895" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/lisadragon/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="16" data-vars-position-in-unit="16"> lisadragon</a>)
6. Drink A Green Monster(06 of11)
Open Image Modal7. Socialize With High-Energy Friends(07 of11)
Open Image ModalSurround yourself with people who help motivate and uplift you to revitalize your body and mind. "Associate with high-energy friends. Their energy and enthusiasm will soon enough rub off on you," Dr. Graham says. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9bd4fde4b03a1dcc7a9895" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="10" data-vars-position-in-unit="10">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/stevendepolo/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" stevendepolo" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9bd4fde4b03a1dcc7a9895" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/stevendepolo/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="11" data-vars-position-in-unit="11"> stevendepolo</a>)
8. Breathe Deeply(08 of11)
Open Image Modal"Learning how to inhale completely and how to exhale completely is one of the best energizers," says Dr. Laurel Clark, president of the School of Metaphysics in Windyville, Missouri.
Next time you need a quick pick-me-up, try this simple exercise from Dr. Clark: Sit with your spine straight, eyes closed. Focus your attention on your breath, and slowly inhale to a count of 6. Hold your breath to a count of 3 and tense all of the muscles in your body. Exhale for a count of 6, completely releasing all of the breath, relaxing the muscles as you do so. Hold the breath out to a count of 3. Repeat this slow rhythmic count--inhaling, hold and tense, exhaling and relax, hold the breath out.
"After a while, you can cease tensing and relaxing the muscles and just focus on the slow rhythmic breath," Dr. Clark says. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9bd4fde4b03a1dcc7a9895" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="8" data-vars-position-in-unit="8">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/ronsombilongallery/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" RON SOMBILON MEDIA, ART and PHOTOGRAPHY" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9bd4fde4b03a1dcc7a9895" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/ronsombilongallery/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="9" data-vars-position-in-unit="9"> RON SOMBILON MEDIA, ART and PHOTOGRAPHY</a>)
9. Sit Up Straight(09 of11)
Open Image Modal10. Eat An Apple(10 of11)
Open Image ModalIt's tempting to turn to sugar (hello, chocolate!) when your energy dips, but eating high-sugar foods will make your fatigue worse in the long run. Make a habit of keeping apples on hand--at home and at work.
"A simple apple is a great energy-boosting, mid-afternoon snack. Full of vitamin C, fiber, and complex carbohydrates, an apple can deliver a boost of energy and stabilize blood sugar," says Peggy Kotsopoulos, a registered holistic nutritionist and author of Must Have Been Something I Ate.
What's more, new research from Florida State University says apple antioxidants and pectin (the sticky part of fruit used to make all-fruit jams and jellies) can help lower "bad" LDL cholesterol (think L is for lousy) and fight inflammation, a known trigger of premature aging and disease. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9bd4fde4b03a1dcc7a9895" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="5" data-vars-position-in-unit="5">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/cheryldudley/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" cheryl.reed" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9bd4fde4b03a1dcc7a9895" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/cheryldudley/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="6" data-vars-position-in-unit="6"> cheryl.reed</a>)
11. Drink Some Water(11 of11)
Open Image Modal