Power napping: Day 100 - The Benefits
I’ve been experimenting with power naps for 100 days now and as such I’ve found I’ve settled into a bit of a pattern. I don’t necessarily need one every day, and I’ve found a good barometer is that the more I feel like I don’t have the time to take a power nap, the more I really need one.
The only real problems I’ve encountered have been external; the idea of napping isn’t widely accepted once you’re older than 5. People look at you like you’re slacking off and not being productive, and woe to anyone who isn’t always 100% “on” and “productive.”
So there is quite a lot of social stigma surrounding napping. Those that “get it” are far outnumbered by those that don’t. And being a napper almost feels - at times - like being a drug user. Sometimes you have to sneak off to get a power nap in. There seems to be a correlation between how much you need to take a break and how much you feel you have to sneak off to squeeze it in.
The major benefits I’ve found include:
- Increased energy
- Increased productivity
- Dramatically increased problem-solving - I have many more breakthrough and “ah ha!” moments after napping.
- Increased level of wellness (I’ve not been sick since I started power napping on a semi-regular basis).
I’ve also found that for me twenty minutes is just about perfect. Often my eyes pop open about 30 seconds before the timer goes off. If I try to power nap for less time I never seem to get the same benefit and if I go much longer than 20 minutes I get increasingly sleepier and groggier and I feel terrible when I finally do rouse myself.
Overall I’m completely sold on power napping. Several times in the last three months it’s been an invaluable tool to finding solutions to vexing problems. It’s made me generally feel better and it’s increased my energy and productivity levels.
If you can get over the social stigma or you’re fortunate enough to work in a nap-friendly workplace then it really can’t be beat.
I encourage you to go and try out power napping for yourself!
Here are some related articles you might also enjoy!
May 16th, 2006
Entry Filed under: Time Management, Success, Improvement, Creativity
3 Comments Add your own
1. frank | May 24th, 2006 at 11:16 am
great article. i’ve been doing it for years. i was wondering if this “new” practice has changed your night time sleep patterns at all? also, what time do you take your power naps? for me if i do it after 3:30pm, my night sleep suffers…
2. Jacob | May 24th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
Frank,
I try for about 2pm - it gives me enough time after lunch to hit a “lull” but it doesn’t ruin my afternoon. I’ve not had any problems getting to sleep at night if I do it later, but I am a “night person” so I tend to perk up around 5:30pm - 8pm anyway and I can stay up all night if I don’t force myself to go to bed.
I do notice that I tend to get up a little earlier when I do get a nap in - at least it’s easier for me to get out of bed in the morning.
Jacob
3. Rizole | September 28th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
I’ve been power napping on and off since finishing full time work 6 months ago to become a stay at home dad. Finding the time to do it (you can’t just go to sleep with a brand new baby in your care willy nilly) is the hardest part but the benefits are tremendous - particularly when your nights sleep can be so broken up.
The second hardest part is putting up with my wife’s tight lipped ‘acceptance’ of the napping. It’s not something she will do; she is the type of person to keep going no matter how fatigued she gets; so although she lets me do it, it’s grudgingly, and I sometimes get angry with her and that stops me napping.
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