Why You Need A Nap And How To Get It

It seems to be sleep-week here on Be Lazier, but who doesn’t love sleep? Helen Emsellem, author of “Snooze…or Lose! Ten ‘No War’ Ways to Improve Your Teen’s Sleep Habits” lists some of the best ways to catch some quick Zzzzs.

Coffee and a Nap Turns out that a cup of joe won’t ruin your nap, it will enhance it. A 2003 Japanese study found that you can alleviate sleepiness by combining a short snooze with coffee. Sound counterintuitive? Here’s how it works: caffeine takes about 20 minutes to a half-hour to kick in, just enough time for you to nap. That way, if you’ve had a coffee-primed nap, the benefits are twofold: you’ve rested and you’re ready to go when you wake.

A good nap is anywhere between 20 and 30 minutes Emsellem writes, and the ideal hour to take one is about 3pm. I like her other big point – consistent napping. By beginning a napping schedule you can alter your body circadian rhythms to expect a little jolt during the afternoon slump. As research mounts that naps can boost productivity and morale, they may finally be taken seriously and allowed at the workplace.