How to Avoid Feeling Drowsy After Lunch

Medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Last Updated: September 29, 2024 Approved

After eating a delicious lunch, many of us tend to fall into a slight afternoon stupor. That's why people in Spain often take siestas. To beat a case of the afternoon slump, it's important to pay attention to what you're eating, as well as making sure that you're giving yourself adequate care overall. You can help sustain your afternoon energy by eating healthy foods, getting adequate sleep, and moving around after lunch. Keep reading to learn more about how to avoid feeling drowsy after lunch.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

How to Identify Causes of Afternoon Drowsiness

Download Article

The main reason why you get sleepy after lunch is because food that you eat for lunch diverts your blood away from your brain to help with the digestion process. Your body also releases a bit of melatonin after lunch related to a drop in core temperature that occurs around 2 to 3pm. Melatonin is a hormone that helps you fall asleep at night.^{[1]
X
Research source}
A post lunch slump may be worse if you haven't had enough sleep the night before. Adults need about 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night to function at their best, so try to go to bed in time to get enough sleep each night. If you are suffering from insomnia, talk to your doctor to determine the cause.

Advertisement
3
Ask yourself if your eating habits may be contributing to your afternoon drowsiness. While a post-lunch slump is normal, inadequate or poor nutrition may make your afternoon drowsiness worse. To determine how to avoid feeling sleepy after lunch, consider the following questions:
- Do I eat breakfast every day?
- Have I been eating a lot of processed and high sugar foods?
- Have I been eating poorly the night before?
- Have I been consuming too much caffeine and alcohol?
- Is my breakfast providing me with nutritional energy? (more than just coffee)
- Have I been physically active consistently?
- Do I have a right life-work balance?
- Have I been eating healthy lunches?
  - If your answer to any of these questions is no, then you should evaluate your lifestyle habits to help make your post-lunch slump less severe.^{[2]
    X
    Research source}
Track the habits that make you sleepy in a food diary. Write down when you feel drowsy, what you ate, whether you had exercised or not, how well you slept the night before, and any other factors that might be involved. Do this over a week, and at the end of the week, analyze the data you have recorded. Look for patterns so that you can learn to avoid any habits that cause drowsiness problems for you.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

How to Adjust Your Diet for Afternoon Energy

Download Article

1
Eat a good breakfast. Never skip breakfast because it sets the energy standard for the rest of the day. Make healthy food choices such as wholegrain breads and cereals, fruits, and yogurt, to provide you with sustained energy for the morning. Eating breakfast helps you to feel less tempted to resort to unhealthy food choices at lunchtime and increases your physical and mental well-being throughout the day.^{[3]
X
Research source} Good breakfast choices include:
- Cereal with skim milk and a piece of fresh fruit.
- Two slices of whole wheat toast topped with 2 tablespoons (29.6 ml) of peanut butter and a banana.
- A multigrain bagel topped with a scrambled egg and a slice of low-fat cheese and a glass of orange juice.
2
Choose healthy lunches over high fat lunches and fast food. Most fast food is junk food, packed full of fats, sugars, salts, preservatives, and flavor enhancers.^{[4]
X
Research source
Rosamund Richmond, <i>Natural Superwoman</i>, p. 126, (2003), ISBN 9-781894-905176} It tastes great on the spot and it feels like an energy boost but it has filled you with calories that lack nutrients, and is a very unhealthy fuel for your body.
- Choose a bright green salad with lean protein for lunch to avoid severe energy drop in the afternoon.
- Drink a cup of green tea with a piece of dark chocolate.
- If you must get your lunch from a fast food place, choose items that are baked or broiled instead of fried and skip the French fries.^{[5]
  X
  Research source}
As delicious as buns, croissants, muffins, and cakes are, as well as a pasta meal, these are all energy slump-inducers in disguise. Gabe Mirkin, MD, recommends avoiding pastries, pasta, and baked goods if you want to stay awake, as their high flour and sugar content will bring on drowsiness.^{[6]
X
Research source} Choosing unprocessed over processed or refined foods is a guaranteed healthier way to feeling better after lunch.
4
Eat a complex-carbohydrate, high-protein lunch. Instead of choosing processed foods and starchy sides, make sure that your lunch is balanced and healthy. Opt for a lunch that features veggies as the main attraction, and also includes a serving of whole grains and lean protein. Build high energy lunches with the following food types:
- Sprouts, green beans, lettuce, mustard greens, radicchio, bok choy, sea vegetables, cabbage, mushrooms, radishes, celery, avocado, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, summer squash, zucchini, bamboo shoots, onions, tomatoes, artichokes, carrots, water chestnuts, pumpkin, etc.
- Whole wheat bread, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat crackers, bulgur wheat, quinoa, etc.
- Chickpeas, egg, chicken breast, tuna, tofu, turkey breast, etc.^{[7]
  X
  Research source}
A large meal takes more effort to digest, so it is more likely to make you feel drowsy. Instead of eating large lunches, eat a smaller meals throughout the day. Balance a small lunch with mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks so that you get all of your recommended calories throughout the day. If you plan to try eating small meals throughout the day, make sure that you don’t go more than three hours without eating.^{[8]
X
Trustworthy Source

Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public

Go to source}
Good snacks to reach for mid-afternoon are those that won't deplete your energy but will boost it. Avoid the temptation to fuel yourself on a chocolate bar and choose a piece of fruit, some crackers with low-fat string cheese, or a handful of almonds instead.^{[9]
X
Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

How to Take Other Measures

Download Article

While a stressful day may make a beer or glass of wine with lunch seem like a nice idea, it will make you drowsy so you should avoid having alcohol with lunch. Alcohol is a sedative and even one glass will leave you feeling fatigued for the remainder of the day.^{[10]
X
Trustworthy Source

Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public

Go to source}
2
Curb your caffeine intake after lunch. Although caffeine is renowned for its ability to improve our alertness, it can become a case of diminishing returns if you need to keep increasing the dosage because its effect has lessened over time. Needing to up the caffeine is unhealthy because you can easily end up having too much caffeine, crashing quickly after it wears off each time, and ultimately you risk developing a caffeine addiction.
- Switch to decaffeinated or non-caffeinated drinks to get you through the afternoon. Water is an excellent choice, as it is also important to keep well hydrated throughout the day. As an added bonus, it provides you with an excuse to stroll to the water-cooler now and then.
Exercise after eating your lunch. After eating, it is a good idea to get out and do some light exercise. Take a walk for a few blocks, do some basic stretches, use the stairs instead of the elevator, or do a few jumping jacks in the restroom — whatever you can think of that fits with your schedule and location. Light exercise after eating will help get your blood flowing and will help to ward off fatigue.^{[11]
X
Research source}
Drinking lots of water during the day will help to keep you hydrated and it may also help to reduce a feeling of tiredness after lunch. Carry a reusable water bottle with you wherever you go and refill it throughout the day.
If you're suffering from excessive drowsiness after eating lunch, you may want to see your doctor for a checkup. There are medical conditions that can cause drowsiness, including iron or other nutrient deficiencies, insulin resistance or diabetes, hypoglycemia, or other medical problems. Diagnosis and treatment is something only your doctor can do.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How can I prevent myself from feeling sleepy while studying without chewing gum? Would music help?

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

Chewing gum is repetitive activity which can stimulate the release of endorphins and other feel-good chemicals. However, chewing gum for prolonged periods of time also stimulates gastric juices production which can be harmful to your stomach. Listening to music can be a great substitute to chewing gum because music can increase positive feelings and help with studying without side effects on your stomach..

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 27
Question

What are some good lunches to eat?

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

Good lunches include high protein shakes, variety of green salads topped with lean protein such as turkey, grilled salmon or chicken.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 9 Helpful 15

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

Though this may not be feasible with your work schedule, you can plan to have a short 15 minute nap or perform a short meditation after lunch and it will help prevent you from feeling drowsy for the rest of the day, and can improve your productivity.^{[12]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
It is important to give yourself a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere in which to eat lunch. Try to leave the office or workroom and get some fresh air. This is about nourishing your spirit as much as your stomach, and will help improve your afternoon enthusiasm and productivity.

Thanks
Helpful 22 Not Helpful 20
While sports drinks can give you an initial boost, don't rely on them for a regular source of energy. Not only are some high in caffeine and sugar, neither of which are healthy in large doses, but relying on them is not a substitute for good nutrition.

Thanks
Helpful 21 Not Helpful 19

Show More Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Chronic fatigue immunological disorders such as fibromyalgia can make this post-meal nap a necessity. If these measures don't work and you have fibromyalgia, consider telling your boss that a post-lunch nap is a disability adaptation. If you can take a nap at work and feel refreshed, that's a practical solution to the problem - much more effective than trying to function while half asleep.

Thanks
Helpful 41 Not Helpful 31
Consult a doctor before making any major decisions about your diet or health.

Thanks
Helpful 31 Not Helpful 24