If you're completely new to power napping, I've written this article with you in mind. Specifically, I will discuss the benefits of power napping, where to do it and how to do it properly.
After reading, you will be able to apply it in your life and see an increase in work productivity, which will probably result in a pay raise too.
What exactly is power napping? It is a short sleep activity which has been proven to increase alertness and productivity. The best time for power napping is right after lunch time, when we're feeling very tired and sleepy.
Power napping has slowly been accepted in society and around 30% of workplaces have a designated area for employees to take power naps. If you're in a company that constantly improves on providing a good working environment, chances are that you won't have problem finding a place to sleep.
What if your boss doesn't like the fact that you're sleeping at work? Then, you would have to shorten the time you take to have lunch, so that you can squeeze in a 20 minute period for your nap during your lunch hour.
The next best place would be sleeping in your car. An alternative would be sleeping on your desk with a note beside you stating that you're having a "recharge", so that nobody would disturb you.
The most efficient way to power nap is to take a small cup of coffee before you sleep. Why? Because once the caffeine kicks in, you have already finished your nap, feeling fresher than before. The caffeine can kill two birds with a single stone. It can prevent you from oversleeping. It can also give you a boost once you've awaken. It's just like being in super productive mode.
Most importantly, you should always remember to set an alarm for 20 minutes. Different people have different times that they require to fall asleep. So, your alarm should account for the time it takes you to fall sleep as well.
This can be done by taking note the time you plan to sleep, and when you start to feel really drowsy and tired. If you're on a caffeine diet, be careful not to oversleep into a 30 minute period. This is because you will wake up in a sleep inertia, causing you to be more tired than before.
In conclusion, practice power napping and you will be able to control the time you fall asleep and the length you are in a sleep. Increasing productivity has never been so easy before.
