Got that mid-afternoon slump? Morning slump, evening slump, all the damn day slump? The kind where you want someone to please pass a law that makes napping a requirement? (Funny how we resist this as kids, then beg for it as adults.)

How do you handle this? That a.m. cup of joe (or six) to get you going? More to keep you going? An energy drink in the afternoon? A “snack” that includes a nice dose of sugar?

The coffee, in reason, not so bad, depending on what you add to it. Energy drink? Pure chemical junk. Probably should come with a skull and crossbone warning. The snack of sugar? It’ll lift you for a bit, but it’s a fickle friend. In not long, you’ll have to ride that roller coaster of energy straight downhill. Not only will that leave you worse than when you started, it will damage your health in the future. What to do instead? Choose from these ideas that will lift you up and help keep you there:

If you can, relish the short nap. Ahhhh, refreshment that lasts.

Water yourself. Fatigue can come from mild dehydration. No, not coffee. Not the energy drink, please! Don’t care if any of the things you’re thinking of contain water. What you need is pure water. C’mon, I have faith in you; you can do it.

Air … you need oxygen. Get out and breathe in some fresh (hopefully) air. Nature, sun, fresh air — those all will help revitalize you, no matter what the weather. If you can’t get out, take some deep breaths into your belly. Yes, like water, sometimes we are oxygen deprived.

Stretttttcccccccchhhh. Unkink your body from where you’ve planted it for too long. You’ll revive the natural energy that’s laying stuck there.

Great music — play it. Doesn’t matter what as long as it’s not a sappy love song and you just split from your significant other.

Low magnesium levels can result in a drop in energy. Seems like that’s becoming true for a lot of us anymore, just like many of us are low in vitamin D. You can supplement with magnesium. (Get one that ends in -ate.) Foods that give you magnesium include almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds and fish, especially halibut.

Bed time — it’s the right time … if you want to feel more energy. That means reasonably consistent sleep times, shutting off electronics a while before bed to allow your brain to get the message so you sleep better as well as making sure you leave time to get enough sleep (but not too much).

Wishing you a boost of natural, life-giving, life-sustaining energy. It makes everything easier. The bonus? It’ll bring you wellness, too.