Not everyone has a bike or the space to ride it around their office. But Nguyen and his co-workers have the right idea when it comes to beating the afternoon slump that occurs somewhere around 2 and 3 P.M. Namely, get up and move around.

There are things we can do to avert the slump before it starts. The most obvious: Get between seven and eight hours of sleep each night.  "If you don't get enough sleep, your body doesn't restore itself to get ready for the next battle," says Stefan Aschan, owner and founder of Strength123, which provides nutrition and fitness programs.

Diet contributes to energy levels too. "Eating a lunch that is too big is the most common reason for feeling sleepy in the afternoon, says Rebecca Solomon a nutritionist. "All your energy goes into digesting the enormous meal."

The goal is to keep the body's Cortical and Cortisone levels even since they're the hormones released by the body in reaction to stress -- they produce the fight or flight response. Their levels are elevated when you have sugar, caffeine and processed food, so you feel awake and energetic. But a few hours later, when those levels drop, you're sluggish.

Solomon recommends eating a meal that's balanced with healthy fats (from olive oil or avocados, for instance) with protein and healthy carbohydrates (whole wheat bread or pasta). The portion will vary for people of different sizes, but a general rule is you should be hungry about four hours after the meal.

Another healthy eating habit: Consume small portions of foods throughout the day, including almonds, carrots and hummus and fruit. Enjoy lunch around 1:30 or 2 p.m., just before the time you normally feel fatigued.

Once you've eaten a healthy lunch, take a brisk 10- to 15-minute walk to get your blood circulating. The fresh air and sunlight will reinvigorate you. Along the same lines, manage your stress by closing the door to your office and laying on the floor for about 10 minutes with your eyes closed. You might not fall asleep in that time, but it's a great way to focus on breathing instead of the stress of the day.

Career coach Mary Ann O'Neil helps her clients get through the afternoon with some unique ideas. She recommends keeping a large jigsaw puzzle in a public area, such as a lunch room or water cooler space, that employees can add to as they walk by. Looking for shapes and colors will get those creative juices flowing. If that doesn't work, try keeping a crossword puzzle or Sudoku at your desk. The online version is too addictive, so stick with the paper games. "It keeps your mind going, but it takes the brain off business mode," says O'Neil, founder of the leadership training firm One to One Leadership.

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About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International.   Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.