How to fight lockdown fatigue... reveals ways of beating the blues and giving your mind and body a lift

neurotr neurotransmitters to make you more alert and also inc increases glucose levels in the body for extra e energy.

Another trick is to simply splash cool water on your face, which really can help restore energy according to a study in the Journal Clinical Neurophysiology.

SCENT SUCCESS

STRUGGLING to concentrate? Certain smells can make us more focused and alert.

Researchers at the University of Northumbria noticed this effect in subjects when the whiff of rosemary was in a room.

A minty smell could also help to boost memory and fight fatigue.

JUICE THE JOB

SWIG a glass of orange juice with your breakfast if you want to stay alert in the afternoon.

A study at Reading University concluded that it made people more alert six hours later.

It’s thought that flavonoids from the fruit help improve blood flow to the brain and connections in your grey matter.

Staying properly hydrated generally can help you stay alert too.

Scientists at Tufts University in the US found that even mild dehydration was associated with tiredness.

GRIN CAN BEAR IT

GET your other half to tell you some jokes or watch a funny TV show.

In a US study, people who watched 12-minute comedy clips felt less stress and enjoyed an energy boost.

Another piece of research, from 2015, showed that watching cat videos on YouTube raised energy levels.

SEE RED

WEAR red clothes and get your partner to do so as well. You could even try writing in red ink.

Surprising research published in the journal Emotion found that being exposed to the colour could stimulate a burst of energy.

According to Andrew Elliot, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, this is because: “Red enhances our physical reactions, because it is seen as a danger cue.”

YES CHEW CAN

CHEWING gum has been associated with making people feel more energised, by helping to keep their brain active.

And in a study into almonds at Purdue University in America, people who chewed the nuts more were found to absorb b more of their energy, and were given an extra boost of vitamin E.

CURSE IT

FEELING fed up? Go ahead, swear.

Using a few profanities has been shown to help increase stamina and d even increase your tolerance for pain.

And helpfully during lockdown, it can even boost feelings of morale while you are working, according to a study by the University of East Anglia, as it provides an outlet for stress.

SPREAD THE LOVE

LOVE it or hate it, Marmite can reduce anxiety and stress thanks to the B vitamins it contains, according to research in the Journal of Functional Foods.

In fact, B vitamins generally have a role in boosting energy in the body.

Eggs and green leafy veg are other good sources.

JAMES MOORE

TEATIME TREAT

IF YOU feel sluggish in the afternoon the best remedy may be to combine a few squares of dark chocolate with a cup of green tea.

Chocolate with a high cocoa content was found to increase alertness in research at Northern Arizona University, but it did increase blood pressure. However, those who had green tea too, saw blood pressure stabilise thanks to the effects of amino acid L-theanine.

TUNE INTO JOE

DOING a workout – like that session with Joe Wicks – might be best timed for the late afternoon to get the best energy boost. bo

Mor More important, tho though, is ensuring yo you do some e exercise during y your working day.

A University of Bristol study found that it could im improve sharpness an and productivity, so ma make sure you get movin moving, even if it is just around y your living room.

Green tea will keep you alert