Whether in the office or at home, it’s not uncommon for energy levels to fluctuate during the working day. According to a recent US survey, this mid-afternoon drop in motivation and productivity often occurs at 3pm.

More specifically, it tends to last almost 29 minutes on average. Some 21% of respondents say they feel this energy crash most commonly in the afternoons, although 74% add that it can also happen at any time during the workday.

Interestingly, working people attribute this sluggishness to several factors, including a lack of caffeine (56%), boredom (53%), and lack of food (51%). That’s why many employees claim they try to regain energy for the rest of the day either by exercising or snacking.

Their anti-fatigue foods of choice? Nuts and dried fruit, mini pretzels, and/or potato chips.

Generally speaking, employees think it’s easy to combat the afternoon slump, whether it’s by taking a break to clear the head, or avoiding overly repetitive tasks. Surprisingly, only 47% of working people take a nap to recharge their batteries – and yet, 41% of working people blame their lack of energy on insufficient sleep.

This shows just how taboo the notion of rest or slumber can still be in the world of work. Certain employers are stepping up their initiatives in the areas of diet and physical exercise to promote their employees’ wellbeing, but few are working on supporting sleep.

Some companies have set up nap areas on their premises, but these firms are still very much in the minority. And yet, if managers want their employees to be more productive, they have everything to gain by tackling the notorious mid-afternoon slump in any way possible.