When it is no longer possible to keep your eyes from fluttering shut and you are craving an energy boost, the question often arises; drink a cup of coffee, or take a short nap?
Luckily, there is a quick and brilliant solution that combines the two options: coffee naps.
The seemingly paradoxical term works exactly as it sounds. Although coffee is generally consumed as a method to wake up fully and naps are viewed to have an opposite effect, the blend actually results in a more alert attitude.
Scientific evidence supports the idea and shows that coffee naps produce more energy than if you were to either drink coffee or take a nap separately. The steps of coffee naps are quite simple. First, drink a cup of coffee. Then, quickly after finishing the coffee, lie down and nap for only 20 minutes.
How do coffee naps work?
Power naps help us get through the day by clearing the brain of adenosine, a compound that builds up and makes us sleepy.
The crucial part of the process is the length of the nap. The caffeine in the coffee travels through your body into receptors in your brain, taking the place of the adenosine while you nap. The effects of caffeine generally kick in after about 20 minutes, and a short nap is a perfect way to spend your time while waiting for the surge of energy.
Vox produced a video that explains the science behind the coffee nap in a way that is easier to understand, and provides examples of studies that help support the concept.
Sleep inertia, as mentioned in the video, is the grogginess that occurs from dozing off for too long and entering a deeper sleep. In order to avoid this, setting an alarm for your power nap is necessary! Professional snooze button pressers, this is directed at you: try keeping your phone out of reach, so that you need to get out of bed to shut off the annoying alarm sounds.
Coffee naps can happen anytime and in any place. Whether at home or work, the 20-minute power nap never fails to re-energize in any situation. In bed or on the couch at home may be the most comfortable, however it is always possible to shut the door at work and lean back in the chair at your desk, sneak off to the break or snack room, or escape for a few minutes to the coffee shop downstairs. Quiet spots in the library are also a great location for a quick and restful slumber.
Since you don’t need to be in a deep, unconscious sleep for coffee naps to work their magic, your body and brain can also benefit from simply relaxing with your eyes closed, and unwinding into a half-sleep zone of serenity.
Try out the coffee nap and experience an energized and productive afternoon!
