Coffee and the 2:30 Slump
We all know the perils of the 2:30 slump. Mornings fly by with a cup of coffee at your side. You’re productive, you’re crossing off everything on your list, and you’re feeling confident. Then, like clockwork, you hit a wall.
This 2:30 feeling is caused by an internal clockwork that controls your body’s wake-sleep cycle throughout the day. After a big lunch, your body wants to enter rest-and-digest mode. Unfortunately, there is no rest-and-digest mode in the busy world of running your own company. So you need a pick-me-up to increase alertness, focus, and overall energy.
For many entrepreneurs, that pick-me-up is another cup of coffee. Maybe the third or fourth one of the day. You might be surprised that this isn’t the best choice if you want to stick to the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. That 2:30 cup of coffee may negatively impact your ability to perform and recover throughout the day. It’s possible to maintain alertness and energy without turning on the coffee maker.
How?
Replace your afternoon coffee with CBD.
Why You Should Ditch the 2:30 Coffee
That first sip of coffee in the morning is a highlight for many busy entrepreneurs who otherwise would struggle to get to work. Once lunchtime hits, is it healthy to still have coffee by your desk?
Not always. An 8oz cup of brewed coffee has around 100mg caffeine. (These numbers vary depending on where you get your coffee and how you take it.) In general, experts set their limit around 400mg-500mg. In the morning, a cup or two should be enough to wake you up and get you going. But as you keep pouring more, caffeine begins to do more harm than good.
Avid coffee drinkers know that crossing the limit is not a pretty experience. Side effects of too much caffeine include:
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
- Jitters
- Headaches
- Stomachaches
- Higher blood pressure
- Increased adrenaline levels
It’s certainly not easy to focus on work when you’re clutching your stomach and your fingers are shaking on the keyboard. Don’t risk it. Be aware of how much coffee you’re drinking throughout the day.
Sugar Crashes Will Bring You Down
Also, it pays to be aware of what you’re putting in your coffee.
If you’re like two-thirds of American coffee drinkers, you enjoy a cup with extra sugar, cream, or other additives. These additives can add an extra 69 calories to your daily intake, and can increase your risk of a “crash” later on in the day. (Grabbing a coffee on the way back from lunch? Drinks from Starbucks may contain even more sugar and calories than your typical home brew.)
Sugar crashes happen when you put high amounts of sugar into the body without a balance of fat, protein, and fiber. The body’s blood glucose levels drop below normal, and all of a sudden you have no energy left to work. Crashes typically happen within four hours of consuming high amounts of sugar – putting you at risk of irritability, low energy, and other symptoms just as you head home from work.
Your Sleep Might Be Affected
The effects of caffeine last for hours. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine shows that a moderate amount of caffeine has significant negative effects on sleep, even when consumed three or six hours before bed. If your afternoon cuppa sits on your desk until 3:00 or 4:00, you might be setting yourself up for a bit of tossing and turning.
So get rid of that afternoon coffee!
Need a Boost? Try These Alternatives
Pumping an emergency 100mg of caffeine and sugar into your body in the afternoon will only disrupt your evening routine. Replace your afternoon coffee with these healthy alternatives to stay alert without crashing on your commute home.
An Afternoon Workout
Sitting in your office chair isn’t going to get your blood pumping. Exercise will. Take 15 minutes to stand up, get moving, and release some endorphins. Experts recommend an afternoon workout to slim down – you can burn up to 10% more calories with a 2:30 workout versus a workout in the early morning or evening.
No need to sweat over an afternoon workout. A walk after lunch can boost metabolism, aid digestion, and encourage weight loss.
A (Short) Nap
The hours of 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. are not considered the most productive hours of entrepreneurs. If you find yourself dozing off at your desk, lean into it!
A 20-minute nap can boost energy and productivity without entering the deeper stages of sleep. Some would argue that a cat nap is even good for the economy – sleepiness at work racks up $63 billion in lost productivity. (Who feels guilty for napping now?)
If you do decide to take a nap at work, try to mimic the conditions of a home slumber. Turn off the lights (or wear a sleep mask.) Lie down in your office or the car. Turn on an alarm and let yourself relax. A guided meditation or gentle music can help you fall asleep quickly and wake up, fully recharged.
A Shot of CBD
If you want to replace coffee with another drink, try a shot.
No, not that kind of shot. The SHOT from Remedy+. No alcohol here – just 20mg CBD and 30mg organic caffeine.
CBD isn’t just for yoga classes and relaxing at night. Experts believe this cannabinoid can increase alertness and boost mood, similar to a quick nap or walk around the block. With only 30mg of organic caffeine, you still get a boost of energy without the jitters or increased heart rate. No coffee breath, no sugar, and no lingering side effects when you try to lie down for the night. Enjoy it before your big meeting, before an afternoon workout, or any time that you’re feeling sluggish.
It’s time to ditch the afternoon coffee. Grab some CBD from Remedy+ for a boost of energy without sugar crashes, sleep disruptions, and coffee breath.
