3 REASONS YOU FEEL TIRED AT 3PM

That 3PM slump.

The one where your mind starts to wonder, you can’t concentrate and you start thinking about a quick fix of chocolate, biscuits or a fizzy drink to increase your energy levels and get you through the next few hours.

If you’re navigating a career, family life, perimenopause or even an autoimmune condition that afternoon crash can feel relentless.

Here are a few hidden reasons your energy keeps dipping and what you can gently do about it.

BLOOD SUGAR SPIKES AND DIPS

If breakfast was toast and coffee or lunch was a quick bite to eat on the run there’s a good chance your blood sugar is on a rollercoaster.

Eating refined carbohydrates like white toast, drinking coffee on an empty stomach and missing protein and healthy fat from your meals can find your insulin levels rising sharply and a few hours later a drop in blood sugar that makes you feel shaky, irritable, exhausted, craving anything sweet and unable to concentrate.

A SIMPLE SHIFT: Start your day with protein and healthy fat before caffeine. Build your lunch around protein, fibre and healthy fats. You can include carbohydrates but make sure your plate is balanced. This will keep you satiated and will see your energy level throughout the day.

YOU’RE UNDEREATING PROTEIN WITHOUT REALISING