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Circadian Post Lunch Dip
The circadian post lunch dip is a normal afternoon alertness trough—meal choices and sleep debt deepen it, but light and movement still help.
The circadian post lunch dip is a biologically normal alertness trough in early to mid-afternoon—separate from a food coma but often stacked on top of it after heavy desk lunches. You cannot eliminate it; you can schedule admin, walks, or easy tasks instead of high-stakes presentations at 2 p.
m. Bright light, brief movement, and adequate prior-night sleep shrink how deep the dip feels.
Common questions
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Should you nap during the circadian post-lunch dip?
A ten to twenty minute nap can help if night sleep is solid and it does not delay bedtime. Most desk workers do better with a walk and task rescheduling first.
Related terms
Put Circadian Post Lunch Dip into practice
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