11 things successful people do during an afternoon lull

• Like most people, you probably feel your productivity dip in the afternoon.
• There are ways to get around that besides mindlessly scrolling on Instagram. 
• One ideal way: get coffee near the office with a coworker. You'll stretch your legs, fuel up on caffeine, and strengthen your bonds with your colleagues. 

Do you feel like your ability to focus and your supply of discipline and willpower are always dwindling by 2 p.m.?

You're not alone.

Lots of people experience a mid-afternoon lull: that dip in energy levels, alertness, and concentration are part of one's natural circadian rhythm, explains Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "You Can't Be Serious! Putting Humor to Work."

"The timing, extent, and intensity of the afternoon lull varies from person to person, and although our lunch diet can affect it, the No. 1 influencer is how well you slept the night before," Kerr said.

Other factors, such as sitting for too long or spending too much time on the computer, can also contribute to a decline in energy. 

And, perhaps one of the most surprising causes of afternoon fatigue is having too little work to do. "If you don't have a clear plan of action and don't set priorities for your day, and especially for the afternoon, it's that much easier to lose steam and feel a dip in energy," Kerr said.

Here are 11 things successful people do to deal with the dreaded afternoon lull.

Jacquelyn Smith contributed to the original version of this post. 

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They go to their scheduled meetings

Some people make the mistake of planning meetings in the morning, and then working on projects that require individual focus in the afternoon.

"This is a mistake, since you'll show up to the meeting regardless, and the stimulus of getting there and talking to people will help you focus," Laura Vanderkam, author of "What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast" said. "Better to plan meetings and phone calls for the afternoon, and individual work for the morning, when you're more focused." 

They get out of the office

"If you don't take an intentional break, your body will take an unintentional one for you," Vanderkam said. "Go for a walk. Get some fresh air."

Taking a walk will get your muscles moving and the oxygen flowing, and it also allows you to clear your head. 

"Plus, getting some fresh air will not only help wake you up, but if you've been working on a computer, focusing your eyes on longer distance objects can help minimize eyestrain — and getting some sunlight can help reset your clock," Kerr said.

They eat

When the energy boost you get from lunch starts wearing off, you tend to experience a wave of sleepiness, Vanderkam said. To avoid that, successful people eat something healthy to perk themselves up a bit.

"Snack on something that isn't too high in sugar, like cheese or fruit," she said. "You don't want to crash again 20 minutes later."