No Limits: The Art and Science of High Performance

by Mukesh Bansal

Performance Hack #25: No Decisions after Lunch If you find yourself unable to concentrate on a task in the late afternoon, you’re not alone. This afternoon slump could be a fallout of our circadian rhythm that determines the ebb and flow of our energy levels throughout the day. It might also be the result of an extraordinarily heavy lunch or lack of proper sleep at night. Willpower is a finite resource, and after a busy morning of meetings and calls, it could be that your willpower is just drained out and you need a boost of glucose to return to a state of alertness. Studies have also shown that the reward-and-risk centres of our brain function less optimally in the afternoon, making it a bad time to take important decisions or actions.