- Green Lifestyle
The power of …!
It’s gray, it’s stressful, it’s cold – I’d love to curl up in bed and let the world be the world for a moment. A power nap is exactly what I need to get rid of this dreary mood – that much is clear.
Babette Lichtenford
Power naps enhance your creativity.
According to a NASA study, napping improves performance by 34 percent and alertness by 100 percent. And brain researchers at the Sorbonne found that the brain can associate more freely when dozing off than when awake and then establishes connections between more distant areas of the brain. This leads to increased creativity after a nap. (Source: Brand eins). There you go … I’m going to lie down now.
The 5 best tips for a proper power nap.
Clearly – don’t drink coffee or espresso. You would think. But that’s wrong.
Tip no. 1:
Drinking a cup of coffee or espresso before a nap is perfect. It takes around 20 minutes for the wakefulness effect to kick in – and that’s exactly how long the power nap should last. No longer, otherwise you would enter the deep sleep phase. So, having a cup of coffee and a power nap straight afterwards is the perfect combo, because you’re using both caffeine and the short sleep effect.
Tip no. 2:
The right timing. The lunch break or early afternoon is definitely a good time. So put on your sleep mask and make yourself comfortable.Tip no. 3:
Set the alarm clock: 20 minutes. And then really get up straight away. You have to get your body used to this rhythm a little. So don’t be annoyed if you don’t fall asleep right away at first – even 5 minutes are restful.
Tip no. 4:
Lights on. After a nap, brightness is important so that the body understands: Hello, it’s the middle of the day! Put cold water on your face, drink one glass of water (and maybe a coffee?). Get your circulation going (skipping helps). And off you go.
Tip no. 5:
It’s better not to take a power nap after 4 pm as this would sabotage your night’s sleep. However, the following also applies: If you feel tired and exhausted, there is no wrong timing.
Well then, I’m going to make my favorite coffee and then I’m off to the couch. How about you?
Let us know in the comments what you think of naps. Do you nap regularly? What do your colleagues think about that? How do you feel afterwards?
