The Do’s and Don’ts of Napping

If you do not get enough sleep, you will probably consider napping to be a great option. However, you may notice minor inconsistencies in your routine every time you nap. Therefore, it is important to know the do’s and don’ts of napping. This will help you to get the most out of your nap. Let’s look at the do’s and don’ts of napping:

Taking a Long Nap

The first thing you have to curb is the time of your naps. Napping is meant to be short. Short naps give you a sudden burst of energy. This energy boost helps you get work done. However, if you nap for too long, you will feel lethargic as opposed to feeling fresh. In addition, you will also end up disturbing your sleep patterns. If you nap for too long during the afternoon, you will not be able to go to bed early. There is no rocket science in figuring out that if you sleep late, you are likely to get up late. Even if you manage to wake up early, you will be sleep deprived. Gradually, your sleep pattern will get disrupted.

Power Napping Rules

Power napping is meant to curb your sleep deprivation for a short while. If you slept late last night and need a boost to get stuff done at work, then power naps are ideal for you. All you need to do is have a cup of coffee about 30 minutes before taking a nap. Once you do, simply go to sleep. The best part about consuming coffee before napping is that coffee takes time to kick in. After going to sleep, the caffeine will begin affecting you in about 20 minutes. This is when you will wake up refreshed. This technique proves effective only for short-term energy boosts.

Relying On Naps

Amongst all the do’s and don’ts of napping, the most important one to consider is reliance on napping. One should never rely on napping all the time. You can rely on naps to provide energy boosts once in a while, but relying on naps regularly will take a toll on your health. Consistent napping may also tamper with your metabolism and your sleep patterns. Only resort to napping when you have to; then you can make the most of a nap when you truly need it.

Be sure to adhere to the do’s and don’ts of napping so that you do not end up disturbing your sleep patterns. Always remember that napping is not a substitute for proper nighttime sleep.

Tagged as: better sleep, falling asleep, good sleep, napping, sleep deprivation, sleep habits, sleep schedule