Your 3 P.M. Workday Slump Could Be Caused by This One Thing (And It's Not What You Think)

The original version of this article was published on Well + Good on Aug 20, 2018.

The 3 p.m. workday slump is so rampant it's become a cliche (you know you're not the only one when there are memes about it), but as anyone fighting the urge to start snoozing at their desk can tell you—it's real.

So why is this afternoon fatigue so widespread, and how the heck does anyone avoid it? According to sports medicine specialist Brad Thomas, MD, the answer is in your hydration habits.

"When you think about it, the brain is 85 percent water, so even the slightest amount of dehydration can change one's mental performance," Dr. Thomas says.

Almost 80 percent of working Americans say they don't drink enough water, according to a recent survey, (there's your explanation for all the memes), which is why Dr. Thomas recommends Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier to his patients.

"The technology found within the Hydration Multiplier formulation delivers water and key nutrients faster and more efficiently into the blood stream than water alone," he explains. "One serving added to 16 ounces of water provides the same hydration as drinking two to three bottles of water."

AKA, you'll get all the brain-boosting benefits of being well-hydrated without having to leave your desk to go to the bathroom every 10 minutes. Ready to drink up?

Scroll down for ways proper hydration can help your workday habits—and keep your energy up through EOD.

Liquid I.V. co-founder Brandin Cohen used to be in a love-hate relationship with coffee. He'd have one cup in the morning to wake up and one in the afternoon at peak slump time, which would keep him from sleeping at night and necessitate his morning cup of coffee and—you get the picture.

Once he figured out the role hydration played in the process, it was a (literal) wake up call. "I didn't realize that the signal for an afternoon cup of coffee was triggered by dehydration," Cohen says. "My routine now is one cup of coffee in the morning and one Liquid I.V. in the afternoon, usually around 2 or 3 p.m. after lunch. This routine knocks out the afternoon slump—and now I can fall asleep at a normal hour!"

To get the full energizing effect, Dr. Thomas recommends drinking about a half gallon of water a day (or one 16 ounce bottle with Liquid I.V. mixed in and one without). Added bonus: The vitamin B12 in Liquid I.V. also acts as an energy booster—so you can break up with your afternoon coffee for good.

You know that insatiable chocolate craving you usually get after lunch? Yep, being properly hydrated can help with that too.

Nerd out with us for a second: According to Dr. Thomas, dehydration causes an increase in the rate your muscles use glycogen, which is an element of the sugar glucose that serves as a form of energy storage. When you run out of glycogen, your body keeps searching for that hit of energy—hence the sugar craving.

"Since glucose is the main source of fuel for our cells, when the body needs a quick boost of energy, glycogen is broken down to release glucose into the bloodstream to be used as fuel," Dr. Thomas explains. "When the body no longer has access to glucose, energy levels are negatively impacted."

So instead of raiding the office snack drawer for chocolate, pour yourself a glass of water with Liquid I.V. (which comes in super refreshing flavors such as lemon-lime, passionfruit, and açai berry). Your body (and your energy levels) will thank you.

Ever been so riddled with brain fog by the end of the day you find yourself racking your mind for any excuse to get out of the spin class you booked? Slowly raises hand.

Being properly hydrated can not only help with making sure you feel energized enough to make it to the studio, it can also boost your performance while you're in class.

"Athletic performance is directly linked to hydration and electrolyte management," Dr. Thomas says. "Athletes need appropriate hydration to get the most out of their cardiac output and VO2 max."

Liquid I.V.'s formula is loaded with electrolytes and B vitamins, plus more vitamin C than an orange and equal potassium to a banana. "It's an ideal solution for keeping you properly hydrated and at peak performance," Dr. Thomas says. Welcome to the leaderboard.

In partnership with Liquid I.V.

Photos: Liquid I.V.