11 tricks for taking a nap that energises you

Sleep experts have found that the length of your nap has a huge effect on how alert you feel afterwards. It all has to do with sleep cycles. A quick power nap should last between 10 and 26 minutes (it is this specific for a reason: NASA scientists found that a 26-minute nap improved pilot performance by 34% and alertness by 54%). An hour-long nap will trigger rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which helps improve memory, and a 90-minute snooze will get you through a full sleep cycle, which can boost creativity and emotional memory, the scientists said. Beware of sleeping for longer than 90 minutes though; you’ll get drawn into ‘sleep inertia’ and enter a new sleep cycle and won’t get any additional benefits. Plus, you could negatively affect your night time sleep.

For most people, the best time to nap is between 1pm and 3pm. But if you subscribe to an unusual sleep schedule (super early mornings or late nights), it’s best to align the time of your nap to the time you woke up. Psychologist and author of Take a Nap, Change Your Life, Sara Mednick, created a nap wheel just for this purpose. All you have to do is enter the time you woke up. The wheel will output your ideal naptime for that day (for example, if you woke up at 5am, nap at 1pm; for 6am, nap at 1.30pm; for 7am, try 2pm; for 8am, try 2.30pm).

For new parents, getting a baby to adhere to a regular nap schedule is vital. The same thing goes for adults, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Taking an afternoon nap at the same time each day helps mesh the extra sleep into your circadian rhythm. Your body will begin to recognise when naptime is approaching, and you’ll find it easier to nod off faster.

It sounds counter-intuitive, but sipping coffee right before a nap may be the perfect aid for optimal alertness, according to Professor John Cline, author of Sleepless in America. Since caffeine takes about 10 minutes to take full effect, you’ll feel even more awake after your 20-minute rest. The coffee nap is more effective than either napping or drinking coffee alone, he says.

Eating food naturally high in magnesium can improve your sleep.

Anyone who’s tried to snooze on a plane or a train knows that while you may be able to fall asleep, it’s not very restful sleep. One possible reason for this is that your sleep position influences how your brain clears waste, according to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience. You need to be lying down, on your side, for maximal brain function, they found. So, resist the urge to nap upright and find a place where you can snooze lying down, preferably in a dark, quiet room.

The temperature in the room of your sleep space has a huge impact on the quality of your nap, according to the National Sleep Foundation. They suggest a sleep temperature between 15-20°C – not too warm but not too chilly – for ideal napping.

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In his book The 4-Hour Body, author Tim Ferriss recommends this trick for falling asleep faster: assume the military half-crawl position. To do this, lie on your chest with your head on a pillow and facing to the right. Place both arms straight by your sides, palms up. Bring your right arm up so that your right hand is under your head. Pull your right knee out to the side so it is bent at approximately 90 degrees. This position makes it almost impossible to move without lifting your entire body off the bed. Less fidgeting has a calming effect on the nervous system, which results in faster sleep, he explains.

While many workplaces are finally recognising the benefits of midday naps on employee performance, it’s highly probable that yours still hasn’t. However, if you’re fortunate enough to have an office with a door that closes, you may be able to sneak in a power nap during your lunch break. Keep a pillow and an eye mask in a desk drawer so you’ll be prepared!

If you have time after your nap to get outside, aim to do so. Spending time in the sunshine helps reset our biological clocks, helping us sleep and wake at times that feel natural to our bodies, according to a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives. Sunlight can also help you feel instantly energised, helping you overcome the dreaded post-nap bleariness.

Don’t have time for a real nap? Restart your day with at least one or two minutes of intentional stretching and breathing. If you only have time for one exercise, clasp your hands behind your back and take deep breaths for 30 seconds. The stretch will open your chest and allow you to take deeper, more invigorating breaths throughout your afternoon.

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