Taking naps sounds like it is something easy, right? Well, the art of napping itself is easy, however, the art of a successful nap can be tricky. How do you know when and how long to take a nap? Believe it or not, there are some things you should take into consideration when you decide to take a nap. We all know that sometimes too long of a nap can have the reverse effect that we want it to have and maybe a nap too late in the day will have you tossing and turning when you actually need to have some sleep.

The best time to take a nap would be in the early afternoon. Any nap after, let's say, 4 p.m., will more likely alter your sleep schedule and will result in having a harder time going to sleep or waking up. Another major factor is the length of the nap. If your "nap" exceeds an hour or two, you will probably feel groggy the minute you wake up and will regret everything, especially if it ends up prolonging too much longer than that and you wake up not even knowing what day it is (guilty). The optimal length for a power nap will be around 20-30 minutes. While this may not seem like very long if you are actually tired it is more than enough! You will feel refreshed afterward and you won't be sleeping the day away either.

When taking a nap, make sure you are able to do so in a restful environment. In my room, I have blackout curtains and when they're closed it makes my room look like it's 10 p.m. outside and I love it! Having zero light in the room and no noise helps me fall asleep much quicker and makes the atmosphere more relaxing.

I usually have to ask my self if I actually need a nap. If I end up napping just because I have nothing else to do, it does more damage than good! I end up sleeping for too long, it messes up my sleep schedule and feeling lethargic.

Before you take your nap, ask yourself if you actually need it! Don't take too long of a nap and make sure you're in a peaceful environment. Now go out and get the most of your nap!