So, prior to like last week, I was always against taking naps in the middle of the day. For me, once I’ve had my morning coffee and started the day, I go to sleep when the day is done. Taking a nap kind of kills the rest of the day, because I tend to feel groggy and tired for the rest of the day if I nap for a few hours in the afternoon. I’m sure there are many of you that like naps, and I respect your opinions. On certain days, like Yom Kippur, naps hit differently and they are less of an option and more of a requirement. But, during my regular week, I’ve always been opposed to napping, until recently….
I started working out in the morning because it was better for my schedule and it’s a good start to my day. So, I’ll get up at 5 AM, which I’m fine with, but recently the lack of sleep caught up with me and I began to crash consistently around like 3-4 PM. I tried fighting it for a while, but very much like post-nap fatigue, I wasn’t very productive after my little afternoon energy crash. But I came up with a solution. Whenever I have an energy crash, like twice or 3 times a week around 3-4 PM, I’ll take a 30 - 60 min nap to recharge and reset for the rest of the day. The results have been phenomenal. My system has been fine-tuned for peak performance: I eat lunch, work until I crash, nap up to an hour, and then drink some iced coffee and within 30 mins I’m back into it like I never left. I’ve got to say that for those of you with long days, napping is a great way to keep your energy consistent throughout the day, and just 30 - 60 mins of rest can make the rest of your day super productive.
Do you nap?
I've had trouble with feeling sluggish for the rest of the day after a nap too. I find the key is to make sure you're not asleep for too long, and consider going for a brisk walk afterwards to wake yourself up and make sure you don't just fall asleep again once you wake up.
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