You know the feeling at the end of the day when you find it hard to concentrate or you just run out of steam. You may head for the vending machines or the gift shop for some sugar or caffeine to ward off that hunger or tired feeling.  By the time afternoon rolls around it may be hours past lunchtime and you probably feel hungry.  Eating a candy bar or drinking a soda isn't going to give you the fuel you need to make it through the end of the day.

Instead, try buying some yogurt and fruit and keeping it at work. The small amount of sugar will give you something to burn without adding extra fat and calories. Protein snacks are also good at this time of day.  A few crackers with peanut butter or a small piece of cheese works well.  Drink water instead of soda or coffee.  Extra caffeine will just make it hard to wind down after work and you want to be able to enjoy that time.

Another great strategy for making it through the afternoon is taking a five or 10-minute break and getting out for a walk. Walk around the block, head for a park, or just walk around the building if you have to.  Physically separating yourself from your workspace even for five minutes may make you feel like you've really gotten away, which can help you feel refreshed when you come back. You may even feel energized by doing a few small stretches right in your work area. Try reaching up to the ceiling and then down to your toes and taking some deep breaths.  Lift your shoulders to your ears several times then roll your shoulders several times in both directions.

Recognizing your own natural rhythm can help schedule your daily plan around when you're at your best.  Whenever it is, try to make sure that you are giving the bulk of patient care or scheduling meetings during the times of day that you're at your peak, if you can control it.  If you tend to feel less and less motivated as the day goes on, do the most important tasks in the morning and save the smaller jobs for the afternoon. This is a strategy you can use with your co-workers and managers too. If you know your manager is at her best in the early afternoon and extremely harried in the morning, wait to talk to him or her until the afternoon.  The more you know about yourself and the people you work with the better you will enjoy your day and the better care your patients will receive.