The Mid-afternoon slump that leaves you drowsy and craving junk food can be avoided by replacing some of your old habits with new healthier habits.

Eating low calorie snacks full of preservatives don’t really do the trick. Opt, instead, for healthy high fiber foods that help you to break the destructive cycle caused by eating the empty calories in nutritionally void foods.

Maybe some quiet time or a brisk walk will do the trick.

Experiment to see what works best for you.

Feeling bad about yourself, facing a “sugar crash” later and too much caffeine may get you over the hump but only for a very short time and will ultimately leave you feeling more diminished later.

“Most people have a lull around 3 p.m. If you’re stressed out and all you can find is junk food from the vending machine down the hall, you may start this cycle that can lead to even more stress,” she says. “Having some fruits and vegetables readily available lets you indulge in something sweet that tastes good and has nutritional value, without the snowball effect.”