5 x 500m row
Rest is 1:1
Post time to BTWB.
Well the weekend is almost here, only one more day. This time of year is amazing. With college football starting last weekend and the NFL in full swing on Sunday there is enough football to quench my thirst. I know most of us like weekends for other reasons such as getting outdoors or taking weekend trips, but you know what my favorite thing to do on the weekend is? Take naps. I get up early on the weekends so that if I have errands to do, I can get them out of the way while most of Denver is still sleeping. I’m typically taking my first Saturday nap before other people have even awaken for the day.
So where am I going with this? I’m assuming I’m not the only person who likes naps. I was reading the WSJ online the other day and came across an article that discussed the finer points of taking the perfect nap and figured I would share the bullet points.
Check out the full article HERE.
There are benefits and downsides to the timing and duration of a nap.
A power nap of 10 – 20 minutes is best when the goal is a quick boost of alertness. For cognitive memory processing, a 60 minute nap is recommended, but be warned there many be some grogginess when you wake from said nap duration. A 90 minute nap tends to include REM and non REM sleep and is great for creativity, procedural, and emotional memory. The 90 minute naps usually produces a less groggy feeling than the 60 minute nap.
The ideal time to take a nap is between 1 pm and 4 pm. Any later could mess with your normal nighttime sleep.
Did you know that roughly 1/3 of the population is sleep deprived? Here’s a sign that you could be sleep deprived. If you dream in a nap that lasts 20 minutes or less, this is a sign of sleep deprivation.
Here’s a little trick to help you wake up more alert after a short nap. Drink a cup of coffee right before the nap. Caffeine will help lessen the grogginess when you awake. Also it’s recommended that you nap slightly upright. Lying flat tends to lead to a deeper sleep which may result in sleep inertia or grogginess when you wake.
I know most companies aren’t keen on the idea of napping on the job but, many of the worlds largest companies are catching on to it’s benefits. Google and The Huffington Post have installed sleeping pods in their offices so their employees can grab a quick power nap during the day.
So if you need me over the weekend, it’s the middle of the day, and I don’t answer the phone chances are I’m enjoying one of my many naps. Better naps now too after reading the WSJ article.
