[dentstudent (OP)]

I do - it's normally about this time that my attention wanders and efficiency disappears! Does anyone know what causes this? Is it the digestive system using more blood? Is it dehydration? Is it just general apathy?
 [|)]

[DoctorBeaver]

Not if I have lunch at 2:30!  []

[dentstudent (OP)]

 Good one! [] So do you get a slump at 4pm?

[DoctorBeaver]

I'm normally asleep by then

[another_someone]

It is why some countries traditionally have a siesta around that time.

Certainly, the effects of the digestive system have some effect (this can be even more extreme in some animals, such as snakes, that eat rarely, but then have very massive meals - so much so, that if a snake is alarm just after eating, it may have to regurgitate its meal in order to allow it to have a rapid exit).  Whether simply the circadian rhythm also has an effect (as it has in the other low point, around 02:00-04:00 in the morning) is another question.


Ofcourse, for those people who indulge in substantially liquid lunches down at the local pub, the reason may be something totally different again.

[Monox D. I-Fly]

Regarding the question in the title, I do. Fortunately my workplace allows me to sleep at work as long as I am sitting upright while sleeping.

[alancalverd]

In umpteen years in the civil service and NHS I always spent 10 minutes asleep on the office floor, about an hour after lunch. My excuse was "back pain" but it really just covered the time when my brain switched off anyway. Now selfemployed I have a nap in the early afternoon, again around 7 pm, and work until midnight.

[Bored chemist]

I see this thread had a slump for about 13 years before being woken up again.

[Colin2B]

I see this thread had a slump for about 13 years before being woken up again.

Long lunch break?

[science12]

I would say it's the digestion that needs to work, depending on the meal, pretty hard but also the blood sugar can affect it I think. If you something that pushes your blood sugar high pretty fast it also drops fast and then you energy level drops too.
But I would also say it depends on the daily schedule, every now and then you need a little break to get clear minded again and if your tired in your head and your energy level drops too I think the slump is bigger.