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My brain usually goes in to "prepare to shut-down" mode every day at about 3:30pm (having started work at ~9am). I tend to have slow mornings, and stay pretty b

• stronglikedan 10y ago
  This sounds like it could be a diet thing. Have you tried eating different things for lunch to see if that affects your mid-afternoon mood?
  • Mahn 10y ago
    I was going to suggest the same. The "prepare-to-shutdown" brain mode could well be that more blood is flowing to the stomach (and thus less to the brain) after a heavy meal.
    • trentmb 10y ago
      I'd have zero objections to a post lunch nap.
  • drawnwren 10y ago
    Do you have any good resources for diet things? I'm interested in this.
    • 127001brewer 10y ago
      Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. http://michaelpollan.com/reviews/how-to-eat/ http://michaelpollan.com/reviews/how-to-eat/
    • stronglikedan 10y ago
      Unfortunately, I don't. I tried many different diets, but they either didn't work, or weren't sustainable. I settled on two rules, lost 50+ lbs, and have been able to sustain it for a few years now. My rules are (1) don't overeat, and (2) don't eat processed foods. It took a few months before I figured out what my portions were, since I don't feel full until about 15-20 minutes after I am. By the time I knew how much I needed to eat in one sitting, I'd become used to eating that amount, so it was a breeze. I do eat whatever I want, with the exception of processed foods. If I can't make it at home with whole ingredients, I'll likely not eat it. I do cheat every so often, but not much, and not a large amount (I love a box of Raisinettes during a movie.) As for not being able to think straight after lunch, I used to get that way when I'd eat too much. I used to love feeling full, but it would definitely affect brain function. Now, I get ill when I overeat. I also try to eat a high protein, high fiber breakfast, because it seems to get me further through the day than anything else (I eat a small late lunch).
      • lobotryas 10y ago
        How did you figure out your personal portion sizes? Just approximation (ex: felt too full after 3 eggs, but just right after 2)? I read plenty of literature on estimating the dietary recommended portion sizes in food, but nothing on how much food I personally should eat in a sitting.
        • stronglikedan 10y ago
          Funny you should use eggs as an example. I do feel too full after 3 eggs, but just right after 2. Unless I'm eating just eggs, in which case 3 is just right. Or unless I'm making an omelette, which is almost impossible with just two eggs. In that case, my dog gets a good part of one of those eggs. As I say, it did take a few months. I also needed to eat a little slower - I was a fast eater of big meals. Mostly just experimentation and willpower - you have to get used to waiting to feel full. I go by the two fist rule: your stomach's about as big as your two fists put together. My family also likes to go out to eat a lot. I ask for a box as soon as the food comes, and put half of the food in it. I used to finish the other half, but now I'll usually end up adding a bit to the to-go, and making two meals out of that later. If I'm by myself, I usually just order an appetizer (I do find myself eating more of just one type of dish per meal). If I go with my family, I'm ordering a meal, because, hey, free food!
  • personlurking 10y ago
    I also habitually got the 3/3:30 shutdown until I played with diet and times. Living in Southern Europe and working from home, my meal times vary but they'd be considered late for US standards (with the exception of breakfast). A late lunch (around 3PM) seems to do away with the mid-afternoon shutdown. Also, at the start of the year, I changed from a healthy-leaning diet to one that consists almost entirely of muesli, lean meat, brown rice, fruits & veggies, eggs, trail mix, rice cakes, water, juice, and things of the like. I even switched to wine (instead of beer), whenever possible.
  • madaxe_again 10y ago
    Actually, I find the most effective means to not fall asleep after lunch is to just not eat lunch. When and if I do, I'm intolerably tired for the afternoon. It's your body's natural response to having been fed - conserve energy until the next hunt.
    • ZenoArrow 10y ago
      > "It's your body's natural response to having been fed - conserve energy until the next hunt." I think it's more likely to be due to the energy it takes to break down food (meaning you have less free energy) that causes people to feel sluggish after a large meal.
      • alatkins 10y ago
        It might be dependent on what was eaten. Of you eat a carb-heavy meal, and you are very insulin-responsive, then you can feel tired afterwards. Try skipping carbs at lunch, stick with protein+fat, see if that makes a difference.
        • ZenoArrow 10y ago
          I don't personally have this problem, even with carb-heavy lunches, but thanks for the advice.
  • cowpewter 10y ago
    Yeah, if you're consistently crashing after lunch, you should probably have your blood sugar checked. High blood sugar will make you sleepy and brain foggy and crave a nap. The earlier you catch diabetes, the easier it is to prevent complications in the future by modifying your diet to include less sugar.
• superuser2 10y ago
  "The 3pm crash" is well documented and extremely common. Personally, I set up my schedule so I am not trying to do intellectual work between 3 and 4. Eat a snack, walk to the Starbucks down the street, go to the gym, take a boring meeting - anything, and then resume programming when my body is ready (usually around 4/4:30). The Spanish have siestas. There is nothing wrong with you - this is human nature. It's in the scientific literature, TV commercials for energy bars, and even some European cultural identities.
  • maxwelljoslyn 10y ago
    The Chinese also practice the afternoon nap. Lunch break at work in China is two hours: one for eating, one for sleeping. White-collar workers all get this long of a break. As for blue-collar, I don't know if factory workers do, but it certainly applies to shop owners, street vendors, and many moped/tricycle drivers.
    • nawitus 10y ago
      Where do they sleep?
      • maxwelljoslyn 10y ago
        Many people, especially shopkeepers and associates, sleep right at work! More than once I headed down to the cellphone store to recharge my minutes, only to remember the time when I found folks sleeping at the counter. Nothing for it but to return a little later. Another popular way to sleep is to stretch out atop the seat and handlebars of one's e-bike (electric moped). Must be more comfortable than it looks.
    • ktRolster 10y ago
      The naps don't look particularly comfortable: http://img2.izismile.com/img/img3/20100419/640/chinese_factory_slaves_640_12.jpg http://img2.izismile.com/img/img3/20100419/640/chinese_facto... But you know, when someone gives you a 30 minute break, you take it!
• Kluny 10y ago
  3:30 is siesta time.
• chrismealy 10y ago
  I heard a nutritionist on NPR say a little more protein at breakfast will cure the 3-5pm brain fog. It's worked for me. I also stopped eating sugar I think that's helped too.
• sethammons 10y ago
  I used to get the afternoon doldrums. This stopped when I cleaned up my diet (little in the way of refined carbs, mostly no sugar, higher protein, more vegetables) and began regular exercise (crossfit). Now, I may get an afternoon slowdown once every few months (usually from not enough sleep).