Last week I asked the question how much sleep is enough sleep? I was able to determine for me, less sleep at night and an occasional power nap was the best sleep cycle for me to use. It turns out I am not the only one who likes the power nap concept. There is an article in Men’s Journal called Snooze, You Win. It discusses this very subject here’s what they have to say about peak performance through use of napping.
Getting The Perfect Nap
Everyone, no matter how high-strung, has the capacity to nap. But the conditions need to be right. Dr. Sara Mednick, who will publish a book on napping in the spring (tentatively titled Take Back the Nap!, Workman Publishing) has some helpful hints:
1 The first consideration is psychological: Recognize that you’re not being lazy; napping will make you more productive and more alert after you wake up.
2 Try to nap in the morning or just after lunch; human circadian rhythms make late afternoons a more likely time to fall into deep (slow-wave) sleep, which will leave you groggy.
3 Avoid consuming large quantities of caffeine as well as foods that are heavy in fat and sugar, which meddle with a person’s ability to fall asleep.
4 Instead, in the hour or two before your nap time, eat foods high in calcium and protein, which promote sleep.
5 Find a clean, quiet place where passersby and phones won’t disturb you.
6 Try to darken your nap zone, or wear an eyeshade. Darkness stimulates melatonin, the sleep- inducing hormone.
7 Remember that body temperature drops when you fall asleep. Raise the room temperature or use a blanket.
8 Once you are relaxed and in position to fall asleep, set your alarm for the desired duration
via Lifehack
So what’s you opinion about napping? Good? Bad?
Technorati Tags: Productivity, sleep, Goal Setting
