This story was originally titled "Beat the midday slump" in the November 2007 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!

It’s 2:59 p.m. and you’ve just been hit by the midday office slump. Instead of reaching for another coffee, try something new to perk yourself up.

Here are a few suggestions:
1. Close your door (or put up a sign on your cubicle) and do a 15-minute yoga routine. It’s a great way to energize and refresh.

2. Pin on a pedometer (that little device that measures every step you take) and go for a quick walk. Aim to accumulate at least 10,000 steps during the day.

3. Use natural instead of fluorescent light at your desk. If that’s not possible, at least get outside sometime during the day to get some sunlight, an often forgotten form of energy.

4. Switch up your office routine. Following the same schedule every day at work can get tedious. Take on a new task, or approach a mundane one in a creative way. It will pick you up and help speed the day along a bit faster.

5. Take a catnap. Many employers now encourage naps, and some even provide quiet rooms for this. A short 15- to 20-minute nap can do wonders for productivity and clearing your mind.

6. Move around. Standing up from your desk, stretching in the hallway or taking a quick jaunt to visit a workplace pal will help refresh your brain and leave you feeling energized. Moving around increases blood circulation and can help get those aches and pains out of your neck and back.

7. Stock your desk with energy-boosting fruit snacks. Snacking on foods that raise your blood-sugar level gives you more energy. Steer clear of potato chips or other junk food that may raise blood sugar, but are followed shortly afterward with a sugar crash.                  

Learn about the secrets of high-energy women to help get you through the work day.