Re:Benefits of Napping in Healthy Adults (2009) [pdf]
by Chris2048 on Wednesday September 20, 2017 @08:21AM
(#15292891)
There are things that can help.
Be both physically and mentally active during the day (mentally can also mean concentration. hours of driving is mentally draining)
Take a warm bath - cooling down will make you sleepy (but only in that 10 min window)
reduce bright lights, and blue lights (light containing blue, sky-toned blues, like strip lights or mobile phones) in favor of mellow-red tones. Blue cones make you more alert, reds make you sleepier. reduce bright lights overall as you approach bed-time.
Keep an eye on you foods, not just caffeine. sugar, slow and fast, and it's effect on blood-sugar [1]. eating can help wake you up when you get sluggish, but digesting can also* make you sluggish..
be comfy - quiet room at right temperature etc. Make your place of sleep a dedicated sleeping place, to strengthen association - do not work in or near the bed or in the bedroom, or browse or use you phone..
Of course, many of these do not help you take midday micro-naps. I the only thing I can think of is something I haven't really tried with success:
Clear your busy mind, via meditation..
Of course, it is supposed that doing this can relieve stress even if you don't actually sleep. I'm not really sure how micro-naps work. breaking your average sleep cycle (90 mins long) will make you feel terrible, so I assume a nap isn't a proper sleep cycle? Perhaps an after-work (~7pm) nap at home, to help after-work grogginess would be easier and more convenient?
[1] It'd be nice if I could easily monitor my blood sugar, adrenaline, concentration etc, in order to see the impact of coffee, sugar etc on myself..
Be both physically and mentally active during the day (mentally can also mean concentration. hours of driving is mentally draining)
Take a warm bath - cooling down will make you sleepy (but only in that 10 min window)
reduce bright lights, and blue lights (light containing blue, sky-toned blues, like strip lights or mobile phones) in favor of mellow-red tones. Blue cones make you more alert, reds make you sleepier. reduce bright lights overall as you approach bed-time.
Keep an eye on you foods, not just caffeine. sugar, slow and fast, and it's effect on blood-sugar [1]. eating can help wake you up when you get sluggish, but digesting can also* make you sluggish..
be comfy - quiet room at right temperature etc. Make your place of sleep a dedicated sleeping place, to strengthen association - do not work in or near the bed or in the bedroom, or browse or use you phone..
Of course, many of these do not help you take midday micro-naps. I the only thing I can think of is something I haven't really tried with success:
Clear your busy mind, via meditation..
Of course, it is supposed that doing this can relieve stress even if you don't actually sleep. I'm not really sure how micro-naps work. breaking your average sleep cycle (90 mins long) will make you feel terrible, so I assume a nap isn't a proper sleep cycle? Perhaps an after-work (~7pm) nap at home, to help after-work grogginess would be easier and more convenient?
[1] It'd be nice if I could easily monitor my blood sugar, adrenaline, concentration etc, in order to see the impact of coffee, sugar etc on myself..