saraha Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Every school day my kids have a quiet reading/napping time from 2-4. It is not completely uninterupted for me, a lot of times some one is working on leftover school work and needs help, needs to talk etc. I am dealing with a chronic tiredness that has not been diagnosed in the meantime. Everyday around 4 o'clock I can feel my body powering down. It is all I can do to make and clean up from dinner and finish the laundry. Anything that isn't done by 4 o'clock just isn't getting done. Some days are better than others, but it is worse now that it is winter because the sun starts going down and my internal clock is screaming "TIme to slow down and get ready for bed!" What do you do to beat this slow down? I've tried giving myself a definite break (Like 15 minutes reading) then getting up and fixing an ice water or pop, and I have tried having a snack. Any other suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Cut out carbs for lunch helps me tremendously. Get dinner ready when you make lunch. Paper plates? :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saraha Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 I will try the carbs thing. I hadn't thought about what I eat for lunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elinor Everywhere Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Carbs put me to sleep. If I avoid all grains, I'm the energizer bunny. If I don't....zzzzzzzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Take a walk. It always works for me. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Exercise and more protein...carbs are really bad for me and I always need a nap after having carbs at lunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaNZ Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I'd look carefully at your diet. I recently (couple of months) cut out pretty much all sugar and carbs, and most of the caffeine. It has made an unbelievable difference to my levels of tiredness throughout the day. I no longer feel exhausted after lunch, and can get through the day with masses more energy even if I got less sleep the night before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shann Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I've been feeling terrible around 3pm and I think it's a combo of not getting enough iron and the high fructose corn syrup that was hiding in the apple sauce I like to have for lunch. I started taking a vitamin before bed and I'm ditching that cheap apple sauce for an all natural one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Vigorous exercise! That banishes the sleepiness completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Give up all added sugar, in all its forms. Eat only whole grains - no white bread / pasta / rice. Keep your glycemic index low. Eat protein with every meal. Read your labels carefully to be sure you are doing these things; they can be very deceptive. (Examples: "wheat flour" is usually white flour not whole wheat flour. "Made with whole grains" does not mean that all the grains in the item are whole. "No added sugar" can mean packed with white grape juice, HFCS, or other forms of sugar. "All natural" often has sugar in it. Sugar can be found in pasta sauce, peanut butter, flavored yogurt, tons of other foods, and pretty much anything you drink except plain water.) Sunshine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Big glass of water and a nutritious snack are what I reach for during the winter months. I don't seem to get as tired during the warmer seasons. I also take vitamin supplements daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithr Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Nap! I believe in naps! LOL. I make them priority time for me. For me I just need to lose consciousness for a couple minutes. You can build in 30 minutes for time to recharge. I do it! I just lay down with a book and wind up dozing for a few minutes. I wake up and I'm ready to roll. Of course cutting out refined carbs and sugar are good too, but naps are beautiful!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraciWA Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I have that same problem! Sometimes I have a cup of green tea an it perks me up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I'm a nap taker. A nice nap around 3 in the afternoon is perfect! Just make sure someone wakes you up before 4!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Power nap, Baby! Don't beat 'em, join 'em. I would never rearrange my life or diet to avoid a 20 minute nap. It's a beautiful thing. There is nothing wrong recharging mid-day. Entire cultures do this. I need to live I one of those places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Vitamin D3 supplement has helped as well. More so in the winter when SAD kicks in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Power nap, Baby! Don't beat 'em, join 'em. I would never rearrange my life or diet to avoid a 20 minute nap. It's a beautiful thing. There is nothing wrong recharging mid-day. Entire cultures do this. I need to live I one of those places. This, especially since I've reached an age/stage at which I just can't seem to get quite enough sleep at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeeterbug Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Can you impose rules on the quiet time that from 3-4 you are not to be interrupted? If they need you, they need to do it the first hour, and then you can use that second hour to rest. Don't do housework or catch up on things, just rest! Then maybe you'd have some energy to finish the day. It's worth a try, anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I find a less than 20 minute nap really helps me. I just doze. I rarely dream etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarkd Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Sunshine or sun lamp, vitamins, something cold and tart like a lemonade or cranberry juice, no caffeine, consistent bed and wake times, upbeat music (headphones if needed) stretching, yoga, light exercise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GailV Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Sometimes the sleepiness is a signal that your body needs to regenerate and heal. That's best done with a nap (and some carbs :ph34r: ). It may be a better choice long term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I stopped needing a 3 o'clock cup of coffee for the first time in my adult life after I dropped grains and (most) sugar from my diet. I highly recommend it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readinmom Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I'm dealing with the same thing... More water, less carbs in the afternoon, some high protein snacks mid-morning, short walk, and nap when you feel the need to nap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Cut out carbs for lunch helps me tremendously. Get dinner ready when you make lunch. Paper plates? :001_smile: I agree. If you're still tired then I would take a short nap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saraha Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 Ok, so today, ate a suasage sandwich for breakfast, drank a coke on the way to teach Spanish (I don't do this everyday, but the coke helps me focus for some reason), had a salad with cheese and dressing and water with lemon juice added. Oh, and a handful of raisens. Tired, but not as much. Is changing what you eat for lunch a cumulative thing? Like it will get even better over time? Also, we are on a limited budget, so often the meal is a carb based. Do I just know that on those days I will be more tired, or will a carb day every other day not be as bad since I am doing something different on the off days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.