There aren’t many human beings on the face of this planet that wouldn’t indulge in a daily nap if they had the time and lack of responsibilities to do so, but even those who do manage to squeeze one in occasionally can’t always make the most of them. Few things are more frustrating than waking up groggy and still tired after an exceptionally unsuccessful snooze.
So how do we make the most of our naps? The following are a few tips to ensure that you end up using your precious nap time in a way that leaves you refreshed and energized to finish out your day:
#1 Don’t Sleep Too Long
Making up for your sleep debt with a long nap sounds like a great idea until you wake up from a three-hour nap with a headache and an overall sluggish feeling in your body. The ideal nap is somewhere in between 20 and 60 minutes, so get the sleep you need without overdoing it, otherwise, you may have a hard time falling back asleep at your normal evening bedtime.
#2 Nap in the Afternoon
Science has proven that human beings really do go into a biological lull approximately six or seven hours after they originally wake up. That means planning naps for the afternoon for most people.
#3 Make Sure You Own a Comfortable Mattress
Here at Ben’s, we provide several different mattress options to help people get comfortable, but having the perfect spot for a nap, whether it be your own bed or a beloved couch somewhere else in the house, is key for making the most of your snooze time.
#4 Train Yourself Not to Need Alarms
While some people will crash for an excessively long nap if they don’t set an alarm, those that have trained themselves to have healthy napping habits will find that they can wake up themselves after 20-60 minutes. Being jolted awake by an alarm is stressful, so training yourself to wake up naturally is the much more desirable option.
#5 Don’t Exercise Beforehand
Wait at least 45 minutes after exercising to take a nap so your heart rate can return to its resting state and allow you the best possible sleep. Done the right way, sleep can actually help with recovery after a good workout.
#6 Avoid Alcohol or Sleep Aids to Get Started
Plenty of people seem to think that booze will help them initiate sleep, but there are few periods of sleep as restless as those caused by alcohol or sleeping pills. Waking up from a nap that started off with chemical assistance is almost sure to leave you feeling gross and exhausted the minute you wake up.
If you can do all of these things, you will enjoy some truly refreshing naps, which is important when there isn’t an especially big window for most people to nap during the day anyway. Here at Ben’s, we always want the best sleep for our customers, and there’s nothing quite like a comfy bed in the middle of the afternoon to gear you up for the rest of the day!