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Are you wondering how to combat tiredness? If the answer is yes, read on! For me, the answer lies in daily naps. Do you ever have a quick nap in the afternoons? Maybe if you are holidaying in a sunny villa by the sea you do. But what if you are working 9 to 5? A quick catnap in the afternoon may be tricky. It may also be a bad idea, especially if you are working somewhere like Air Traffic Control… Catnapping sounds so quaint - something your aged auntie would do and not very cool. We prefer to have a POWER NAP. That sounds so much more dynamic and in control, although the technicalities are just the same. The Spanish have been having a "Siesta del Hidalgo" (a gentleman's nap) for centuries. The northern European countries have not cottoned-on to this yet, where sleeping in the afternoon is linked to low productivity. If you are short of quality sleep then a catnap, or a power nap if you like, is a great way to top up. If your night’s sleep has been disturbed by things such as crying babies, a bladder the size of a walnut, work commitments, social commitments or general insomnia, the power nap is for you. Detailed research has shown that the amount of sleep a person needs is 20 minutes more than they had! Some people can motor on through the day having had only 5 hours of sleep. Others need 9 hours to make it through the day. If you have had less than you need, a power nap can really help. As with everything, there is a right and a wrong way to power nap. There are two types of sleep that need concern us; light sleep and deep sleep. Deep sleep is the stuff you want for hours in the night. It takes a while to get into deep sleep and a while to wake up from. Power napping gets you off to sleep and whilst it is short enough to give you the benefits of extra sleep, you stay out of deep sleep. Waking from a nap in deep sleep makes you prone to sleep inertia. Basically, you feel rubbish. Power napping for no more than 30 minutes prevents you from slipping into that deep sleep. Here’s what to do... 1. Find a quiet, comfortable place for your nap. 2. Set your alarm. You do not want too much sleep, remember. 3. Have a cup of coffee BEFORE you sleep. Caffeine takes about 30 minutes to get into the system, so by the you wake up the caffeine will hit and you’ll have a double boost! Happy Napping. Ever ask the question "Why Can't I Sleep?" If so, click here for a great solution to your sleep problems Lol (Laurence) Cohen is the founder and guiding light of the Picture of Health Clubs. His dedication to change his life for the better, combined with a study of the human physiology and stretching, have made him perfectly placed to promote the Picture of Health Clubs message to unwind body and mind. For more information about exercises for seniors, please visit thePicture of Health Clubs blog. Alternatively, check out the book here
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Daily Naps, Naps, Tiredness, Insomnia, Constant Tiredness, Why Can't I Sleep, How to Combat Tiredness,
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