If you were an employee at Google, you would be among the fortunate few to get yourself a ‘Power-Nap Pod’, a specially designed chair to take a short nap, which will wake you up with vibrations and music. Power napping is getting increasingly popular the world over due to its instant results. Many companies are now allowing their employees to take power naps. You could be a busy executive at a long stretched meeting, a weary homemaker or a student preparing for your examination; a power nap can significantly rejuvenate you.
What is a Power Nap?
Power nap is a term coined by Cornell University professor James Maas. Power Nap refers to a short sleep ranging from 15-30 minutes, which ends before a regular deep sleep cycle begins. Power naps should not exceed 30 minutes, 15 to 20 minutes is an optimal range.
Types:
Naps can be typed in three different ways:
- Planned napping (also called preparatory napping) involves taking a nap before you actually get sleepy. You may use this technique when you know that you will be up later than your normal bed time or as a mechanism to ward off getting tired earlier.
- Emergency napping occurs when you are suddenly very tired and cannot continue with the activity you were originally engaged in. This type of nap can be used to combat drowsy driving or fatigue while using heavy and dangerous machinery.
- Habitual napping is practiced when a person takes a nap at the same time each day. Young children may fall asleep at about the same time each afternoon or an adult might take a short nap after lunch each day.
Tips:
- A short nap is usually recommended (20-30 minutes) for short-term alertness. This type of nap provides significant benefit for improved alertness and performance without leaving you feeling groggy or interfering with nighttime sleep.
- Your sleep environment can greatly impact your ability to fall asleep. Make sure that you have a restful place to lie down.
