There are many well-known people from history that were famous for taking naps, including Thomas Edison and Mark Twain. Did you know?
Many people take naps, but many more do not. A common complaint of the non-napping is that of grogginess upon awakening. There are two solutions for this: Nap for a shorter period of time and practice.
A quick nap avoids the deeper stage of sleep that leaves you feeling worse than you did before. With experience, your body will learn to not only accommodate a nap, but to welcome it.
Napping is a quick and easy way to refresh your body and mind. Increased productivity is the result. You’ll get more done over the course of your day if you include a quick nap. Your evening will be more productive, too.
Try these ideas to incorporate a short nap into your schedule:
1. Naps don’t need to be long to provide great results. Even short, 15-20 minutes naps have been shown to invigorate people that need a break.
It’s been reported that the famous artist, Salvador Dali, would sleep in a chair with a spoon in his hand. When he fell asleep, the spoon would drop from his hand and hit a metal pan on the floor, waking him up. He claimed this was the perfect length nap.
2. Make yourself comfortable. This might mean taking off your tie, loosening your belt, and removing your shoes. It only takes a few seconds and will help to ensure a productive nap.
3. It’s not necessary to even fall asleep. There’s little doubt that falling asleep for a few minutes is better than not sleeping at all. However, lying down, closing your eyes, and relaxing your body and mind can still have benefits even if you don’t fall asleep.
Empty your mind and simply relax.
4. Use an alarm. It’s hard to really relax if you’re afraid of oversleeping. Set the alarm on your cell phone and fall asleep with a clear mind. If you’re especially worried, consider two alarms.
5. If you have the time, experiment with longer naps. If your situation allows it, try sleeping for 30 minutes or more. Pay attention to how you feel after naps of varying lengths. Many people find that napping beyond a certain length of time leaves them feeling sluggish and groggy.
6. If one nap is good, maybe two (or three) is even better. Experiment with multiple naps. Some people never sleep for extended periods of time and take several longer naps instead.
7. Upon awakening, stretch, have a drink of water, and start with simple activities. It might take a few minutes to become 100% awake.
Filing papers, taking a short walk, and listening to voicemails are all good tasks after a nap.
8. Learn to recognize when a nap is needed. The signs will be different for everyone, but some common signs are fatigue, difficulty focusing, and irritability. If you’re feeling off, a quick nap might be a great solution.
You might believe that you aren’t suited to napping, but nearly everyone will benefit from a short nap or two during the day. The key is to keep the nap short and give your mind and body the chance to adapt. Give napping an honest effort before determining that it’s not for you.
Your productivity will increase, and your day will be more enjoyable. You might find yourself doing more around the house in the evenings, too! Give napping a chance. It will perk up your quality of life in multiple ways.
Now I'm off to my nap! Adios!
