12 Strategies for Avoiding That Notorious Afternoon Slump

Smart event design is a series of carefully orchestrated touchpoints that shape the attendee experience. An often-overlooked opportunity to add a touchpoint is the hour or so after lunch, when attendees have just eaten and can grow tired and disengaged.

Here are 12 things you can do to transform that crucial period into a meaningful transition to the rest of the afternoon.

1. It All Starts With Breakfast

Breakfast is the key to having energy that lasts throughout the day. Choose whole grains, which provide longer-lasting energy, and eggs, which have a high concentration of energy-providing protein.

2. Think Omega-3’s for Lunch

The goal for lunch is to choose foods that help keep attendees’ blood sugar levels stable. Aim to provide a 600- to 800-calorie lunch. Include foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to be essential for brain function, such as fish (particularly salmon), chicken, and pork. 

3. Include Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables contain high concentrations of nutrients and plenty of fiber, both important factors in producing energy that won’t fade quickly. Vegetables that are high in iron, such as spinach, will help alleviate the groggy feeling. Blueberries are extremely healthy and low on the glycemic index — meaning attendees’ energy won’t spike and then crash.

4. Avoid Alcohol

Although in some cultures it’s perfectly acceptable to offer wine with lunch, it will make many attendees sleepy more times than not. So leave the rosé on the roof for happy hour.

5. Schedule a Walk

Is there a park near the meeting venue, or a bike path? Is there a short tour you can include in the agenda? An activity that is physical and that lasts 10 minutes will aid in making sure your attendees are alert for the rest of the day’s program.

6. Swap Seats

Try a seat swapping exercise after lunch. It provides people with something to do physically, as well as network and chat with people they may not have met earlier in the day.

7. Change Up the Room Set

One planner worked with her resort in Florida to change the tablecloths and settings while attendees were at lunch from a lime to tangerine themed. Amenities at each seat included color-coordinated lip balm, hard candies, and pens, and the florals changed as well. Attendees immediately came to life as they walked into a room that looked entirely different than the one they had left.

8. Introduce Scent

Scent can have a strong influence on people’s emotions and moods. Include a sprig of rosemary at each place setting, for example; it is known for enhancing brainpower and leaving people feeling refreshed and mentally stimulated. Another choice would be cinnamon, which helps improve focus by acting on the area of the brain that governs alertness.

9. Add Some Music

When attendees enter a quiet room, it sets a tone that is anything but lively. Have the venue play a genre of music that suits all tastes, like some relaxed jazz or contemporary hits, to build momentum for the rest of the afternoon.

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10. Include a Stretch Break

Starting off the afternoon with a guided stretch break and breathwork can help encourage mindfulness and boost engagement and productivity. Most hotels will be able to arrange a session with a member of their spa team.

11. Keep Everyone Hydrated

Provide lots of water at every opportunity. It might seem obvious, but it is too often overlooked. Proper hydration is critically important to staying energized and keeping concentration throughout the day.

12. Have Your Speaker Avoid Videos and Powerpoint

There are few bigger mood killers than Powerpoint. So if possible, plan your agenda so that the session after lunch is light on the slides. Video requires dimmed lighting or drawn curtains, which also is not ideal, so try to skip it as well.

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September 15 – NEW YORK CITY