Take a Break!

To increase your energy level and enhance creativity, take time for a few breaks throughout your day. Every 2 hours or so up until about 4:00 p.m., stop what you're doing and do something else for 20 minutes-take a walk, listen to music, nap, or eat a nutritious snack. Whatever activity you choose, make sure it's stress-free. (No working lunches!) If you can't take 20 minutes, take 5 or 10. Becoming tired after prolonged mental activity is a sign that your brain needs to rest. Giving your brain a little downtime may facilitate the synthesis of a particular protein that is necessary for the next upswing in mental activity.

Be aware that the biorhythm that helps you to wind down at the end of the day begins at about 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon. At that time, you may feel as though you've hit a "double low". Try taking a shorter break so you can enjoy being active for a few more hours.