5 Ways To Power Through The PM Slump

We all know that 3 p.m.-on-a-workday feeling: your eyelids start drooping, your computer screen gets blurry, and the floor beneath your desk looks like the perfect place to curl up for a nap. As it turns out, there’s a scientific reason for your slumping shoulders: “Between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., a drop in body temperature naturally occurs in most people, which releases melatonin, a hormone that makes you feel sleepy,” says Dr. Michael Breus, sleep expert and author of The Sleep Doctor’s Diet Plan.

Of course, having a regular sleep schedule is key to feeling more alert all day, but if you’re dragging after watching one too many Homeland episodes last night, here are five research-backed methods to overcome a midafternoon crash — even if there’s not a Starbucks in sight.