When you find yourself feeling a little drowsy or unfocused at work, you probably grab the nearest caffeinated beverage. And while coffee and tea can certainly perk you up, there are other, healthier, options to get the boost you need.
Like this: Gregory Ferenstein over at The Daily Beast has started replacing a shot of caffeine with just 30 seconds of high-intensity exercise, such as jumping jacks or mountain climbers. To evaluate the results, he self-tested his mental performance after doing exercise versus drinking a coffee—and found his performance was improved more by the exercise. (He also found some interesting scientific research to back him up.)
While the improvement wasn't huge, it's certainly something to consider, especially given the negative side effects of caffeine dependence and the number of people who are looking to get fit in the new year.
So, this week, instead of reaching for that second (er, third) cup of coffee when you hit your mid-afternoon lull, find a quiet corner and try 30 seconds of your favorite heart-pumping exercise instead. It may sound odd, but the results might surprise you.
Give this trick a try, and tell us how it went in the comments below!