Power Nap
Comments: 13
Some years ago, a fellow I was working with introduced me to the secret of the 20-minute power nap: guiltlessness. You can’t get any benefit from a nap if you feel like you shouldn’t be taking it (and therefore can’t relax properly). The secret is to just completely forget about whatever it is you’re working on and let your mind wander. Imagine you’re anywhere but at your desk, indulge all fantasies (but remember that the idea is to get some rest here ;-) and within minutes you’ll be feeling like you’re a million miles away.
Completely disengaging from your workplace (or wherever it is you happen to be) is important because it seems to get you to the REM stage faster, and this is where the big nap benefits are to be found.
Nap ‘as good as a full night’s sleep’
BBCGrabbing an hour’s sleep during the day may be as beneficial as a whole night in bed, according to scientists.
But the “power-nap” only works if the sleep is of the right quality, say the experts from Harvard University.
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Posted to General Rants • 2003.06.23 (Mon) • 23:28
Comments
Posted by d 2003.06.23, 23:41
i often fall asleep in my chair, even during the work day.
Posted by Bep 2003.06.24, 01:09
The trick is to be able to do this with your eyes open and you hands making typing motions across the keyboard. I sometimes get 7.5 hours of “sleep” each day this way.
Posted by Ashley 2003.06.24, 03:15
It’s interesting that you should mention this. I was thinking of incorporating a power nap club in the school I belong to.
You are absolutely right about the benefits of power naps.
As you also mentioned, it does take some focus and a little bit of training.
Posted by Ryan 2003.06.24, 04:17
For an even finer granularity on short-naps, allow me to point you to something I wrote a few years back:
http://www.dailyping.com/archive/2000/01/13/
In college, a three minute nap (in my own bed) between classes was golden.
Posted by Kristen 2003.06.24, 09:16
I love a good nap, though mine tend to be somewhat more lengthy and taken in bed in the late afternoon. I don’t feel guilty; I need my beauty sleep. :-)
Posted by gomichild 2003.06.24, 09:43
I’d kill for a nap right now and I just woke up!
Stupid crazy deadlines…
Posted by Travis Morgan 2003.06.24, 22:17
I think if I try to power nap, it’ll end up lasting more then 20 minutes and I wont wake up until I’m fully rested or somebody wakes me up. I’m afraid to try it because I don’t think I’ll wake up in time.
Posted by Remi 2003.06.25, 00:21
I have found that my power naps tend to come along on the train ride back from work/uni. No guilt.
Posted by Dave 2003.06.25, 02:05
Reminds me of something I wrote a few months ago. (As I look at it now I realize that it needs some proofreading. Ah well.)
Posted by yafujifide 2003.06.25, 04:31
If only I could force myself to get less sleep. But with 10 hours a night, it’s hard to take naps.
Posted by Adam 2003.06.25, 18:41
Like Remi, I used to sleep on public transport. I found there was one optimal seat to sleep on in a leant-forward position, where my crossed arms were quite well supported.
The amazing thing was that even in my semi-sleep state, I would consistently wake up immediately before my stop! Only one time did I sleep through to the terminus and have to walk all the way home, and that was after a particularly tough Rugby training session.
Posted by Robbie 2003.09.09, 18:32
What I am interested in are the ‘cues’ that quickly put us into a power nap….anyone got any? What are the feelings/thoughts/body movements that let you know a power nap is coming on?
Posted by Arielle 2004.04.30, 05:23
I saw story on KOMO TV about a Power Nap Club and after a bit of sleuthing found out that these crafty high school kids are listening to a CD with guided power nap meditations complete with gong or chime sounds to wake you up from your power nap at just the right time (before your boss or teacher shows up) from the Power Nap Kit. If you’re interested, visit www.powernapkit.com
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