FlexRex: Fictional Blogger

It occurs to me that one of the biggest threats to work-from-home productivity has never been documented. I'm talking about the dreaded "Carbo-Coma," the overpowering fatigue that strikes workers about an hour after lunch.

There is undoubtedly a psychological component to this ailment. At least, back when I had an office it did not seem as debilitating. This could be because it was so easy to combat by getting up and chatting with a neighbor about something like girlfriends, gossip, or sports.

Now, with flex officing, Carbo-Coma is something to be reckoned with. Fortunately, there are a number of stimulation therapies available:

* Chemical intervention. If you can handle the caffeine, black coffee or Red Bull is your afternoon friend. Go for the low-carb variety to avoid the anesthetizing blood sugar bell curve.

* Socio-Environmental variation. Go somewhere public like a coffee shop where you wouldn't be caught dead napping.

* Auditory assault. Dig up that Metallica CD you haven't played since college.

You could, of course, just succumb and let nature take its course. A new program called pzizz let's you take short power naps right at your desk. I'm telling you, this is best investment of 15 minutes you've ever made on behalf of your employer.

And don't guilt-trip too much about resting during the day. Since you are Flex, you can always start your day earlier or end it later. And when you feel that big lunch coming for your consciousness, just dim you shades, lean back, and wait five minutes for the UPS guy to ring the doorbell.