Is the Power Nap a Myth?

Ah, the elusive power nap. I sustain myself through a long day by promising myself that I’ll take a power nap as soon as I get home. Of course, this never happens. I am always reminded of the instances when I do take a nap and wake up more tired than when I began an hour earlier.

So, am I an anomaly? Or do power naps exist?

Experts say that naps can be an excellent way to recharge – but the timing is crucial. It all depends on your sleep schedule.

Sleep cycles run in 90-minute loops. If you are sleep-deprived, a 1.5-hour nap can be refreshing and not too tiring. A full sleep-cycle nap like this will leave a sleep-deprived individual probably feeling more mentally and physically rejuvenated. Naps can increase memory, cognitive skills, and creativity better than caffeine can; in fact, caffeine impacts cognitive ability adversely. Naps leave you more alert.

If you aren’t sleep-deprived, shorter naps can be effective refreshers. 10–20-minute naps, which can be hard to get used to, are generally the golden zone for energy naps. In this situation, sub-20-minute naps are ideal. Naps which exceed 20 minutes can leave you feeling “groggy and disoriented.” I for one know that feeling.