We have all experienced it: an incessant wave of tiredness that hits mid-afternoon, accompanied by low morale, poor focus and heavy eyelids. This universal phenomenon, known as the afternoon energy slump, is driven by the workings of our body's internal 24-hour clock, the circadian rhythm.

The circadian rhythm synchronises behaviour and bodily functions to a 24-hour clock. It influences critical body functions such as hormone release, body temperature, sleep-wake cycles, metabolic regulation and memory consolidation.

Hormones play a role in the afternoon energy slump. Cortisol is the hormone responsible for feelings of alertness and peaks in the morning to help us feel alert upon waking. During the day, cortisol levels naturally decline, affecting our energy and focus.

Meanwhile, adenos

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