While drinking that afternoon cup of coffee or soda may seem like a good idea at the time, it can eventually lead to a crash that often leaves you worse off than before. Here are a few options to raise your energy without resorting to a caffeine spike.

Against popular belief, not all carbs cause an after-lunch energy crash. While white flour gives you a temporary boost and then leaves you sleepy, whole grains give you long-lasting energy. As if you needed another reason to swap that white bread for whole wheat.

Surprisingly, chewing gum will also give you a boost of energy. Chewing gum increases blood flow to the brain because it increases your heart rate. This results in higher alertness. There’s a bonus for those who like mint-flavored gum, according to Prevention, as it stimulates your nerves—much like splashing cold water on your face.

It's not shocking that turning on the lights will wake up your brain, but it turns out that the color of the lights also matters. A study from the Lightning Research Center proved that red bulbs cause an “edgy alertness,” while blue bulbs create a calmer awake feeling.

Blasting your favorite song is also a wonderful way to get an energy pick-me-up! Various studies have found that solo singing decreases tension and boosts energy just as much as a cardio workout. Turn up the tunes!

Massaging your ears is also an effective way to beat the afternoon slump. Your energy pathways pass directly through your ears, so you can gain more energy by massaging the rim of your ears for just 10-30 seconds.

Leave behind the caffeine jitters and try out some of these new techniques to kick-start your day!