Napping during the day feels good, but it can also exhaust you. With my first-hand tips, you will master the art of rebooting in no time.
I also share some advanced techniques that can boost your creativity and solve some problems… while your eyes are closed.
Magic? No.
Practice? Yes.
And here is how you unlock all those goodies one nap at a time…
10 power nap tips that won’t make you feel sleepy afterwards
If you are a beginner in the field, try my tips one by one to find your dream scenario.
Bust first, I want to give you some extra motivation to include naps in your schedule:
Authors with lazy traits wrote their best works thanks to naps and chilling a lot.
1. Drink a cup of coffee before you nap
Drinking coffee before a power nap may sound like a crazy idea. But it takes some time before caffeine kicks in.
Use that to your advantage.
Drink one cup of coffee before you nap and you will feel fully energized when you open your eyes.
2. Don’t darken the room
If the room is covered in darkness, your body will believe it’s bedtime.
So, keep the curtains open. This will create the perfect environment for waking up from a power nap.
The next tip is closely related to this.
3. Choose a comfortable sleeping napping space
Yes, you can nap on your bed.
A far better option is the couch.
Why?
Because your body and brain won’t secretly trick you into a long sleeping session.
4. Set an alarm
Napping is not sleeping. You need to prevent that your mind and body slip away into a deep sleep.
20 minutes is ideal for power napping.
Waking up from a long trip in dreamland makes you feel groggy and disoriented.
Setting your alarm will prevent that.
No time to nap? Daydreaming can revitalize you too.
5. No screen time
Jumping from your laptop or phone to the couch is a bad idea.
Your brain is then in active mode, and it is tough to stop the train of thoughts.
For me, 15 to 30 minutes of no screen time before a nap gets the best results.
Try to find what works best for you.
And don’t feel guilty about taking time for yourself, or even doing nothing once in a while.
You need and deserve it.
6. Don’t work out before napping
When you do physical exercises, you feel more energized. Your blood is filled with oxygen and your heart beats faster.
These conditions will make it impossible to power nap.
Doing sports is a great alternative for naps.
But then again, you are reading a site that is all about laziness.
7. Switch off notifications
Turn off all sounds and bells that can interrupt your reboot session.
Check your phone, but also your washing machine and any other devices that make beeping noises.
8. The sound of silence
Is it best to listen to music or completely block all noises when you take a power nap? That depends on you.
Heavy metal and napping are not a match in heaven.
Depending on how I feel at the moment, I prefer
- Relaxing music with nature sounds or soft piano tunes.
- Background noises, like the sound of rain or a fireplace.
- Ear plugs. In that case, I put my phone on vibrate mode to not miss my alarm.
9. Think visually
When I close my eyes, I hear my inner voice talking.
At a moment, it stops keeping me awake.
But the problem is that this is usually too long for the ideal power nap.
To stop my inner monologue, I trained myself like a puppy to think in images.
Now, it is as if I watch a movie in my head with my eyes closed.
This movie has no plot. There are no dialogues.
It is just images that my brain flashes before my eyes.
This technique is easier than it sounds.
But if you practice enough, it can unlock the true power of naps.
Before we get to that, I want to give you one more expert tip that does miracles to me.
10. “Focus” on 1 idea or a problem
I get the best results from a power nap when I focus on one idea or a problem.
This can be anything:
- an article I want to write
- a project I am struggling with
- a task I have no experience with
When I focus at the beginning of my napping session on one thing, my brain sometimes finds a solution during my reboot session.
That brings me to the next part…
Why would you even nap during the day?
Sometimes I can take a 10 second nap.
Close my eyes >> push the mental reboot button >> wake up fully energized.
This takes years of practice, and it only happens when I am extremely exhausted.
But even 20 minute naps can have amazing effects.
- Solving problems with your eyes closed. During a power nap, your brain can approach the issue from different and unexpected points of view.
- Inspiration and creativity boost. Napping can also be a freestyle brainstorming session. Since you are not in control of your thoughts, your brain can come up with creative ideas.
Fun fact: Some of the greatest minds in history had their best ideas when chilling.
Frequently asked questions
What is a power nap?
A power nap is a short and light sleep session during the day. The moment you wake up, you feel energized, inspired, and productive. Compared to sleeping, naps are brief.
How long should a power nap last?
The ideal length of a power nap is between several and 20 minutes. That’s long enough to enter a zone in which your consciousness gets disconnected from reality.
When is the best time to power nap?
The ideal time to nap is around the middle of your day. You won’t struggle to fall asleep when it’s bedtime.
So, next time you take a nap…
Before you take a nap, remember this:
- Power naps are a healthy way to boost your energy during the day.
- Create the right power nap circumstances. No distractions, daylight, set an alarm (and why not drink a coffee before napping).
- Before dozing off, focus on one problem.
- Think in images and put your imagination to work.
Good night!
I meant: good day!
