Any "Power Nappers" Out There?

I nap often. I don't know about formal definitions but to me a nap is when I sleep until I wake. A power nap is when I sleep for a short period and set the alarm to wake up. I curl up on my bed with one or more of my dogs under my fleecy blanket.

I usually feel a ton better after, because most mornings I'm up at 4.30am to coach my running group and I rarely go to bed until midnight. The naps are what keep me functioning and without them I think I'd be a bit of a zombie!

Wasn't there some research recently that showed that napping was really good for you? Must go and have a look again..

I nap more than I used to, and I would say that a nap is longer than 60 minutes and a power nap, on average around 15 minutes.
A quick doze in my chair around 4:30 pm is a great help.

I try though fail sometimes not to take a nap over 20 minutes in a day.If its over that period of time it seems to affect my sleep at night.

Hey there, The Niche Man!

Yessir! Absolutely!!! My wife & I both freakin' LOOOOVE Naps!!!

(She says that if there ever was a job, where you actually get paid for sleeping,....or napping,.....She's ALL OVER IT!!! LOL!!!)

To me, personally,....a "regular" nap is like a nap from 30 minutes to an hour, plus.

A "power nap",....is like the ones I take during my lunch break,...anywhere from 10 to 20-30 minutes....Basically a shorter, quick nap where ya sneek in some shut-eye, just to re-charge.

Best places for me, besides my own cushy cloud-like couch, where you just sink into the middle,.....is surprisingly sometimes in my car!!! Yeah! even in the parking garage at work!!!

I simply put on some head-phones or ear-buds on, listen to some soothing meditative music and/or some deep subliminal, shut my eyes,...set my iPhone alarm,...just in case,......then pow!.........Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Typically, after at least 10-15 minutes, sometimes even a deep 5-minute deep meditative, alpha-brainwave level,..... I feel pretty dang refreshed, recharged, and ready to rock n' roll!

Thanks for the inquisitive and insightful, post, The Niche Man!!

Great niche idea, by the way!!!! Naps/Power Nap Enthusiasts! Sign Me Up, Bro!!

LOL!

.....The Best is Yet to Come,.....

Hope my reply helps!

-thetrusted1

Powernap is about a 15-20 minute nap that just refreshes you.
Nap is longer an hour +?
I love the bed to powernap and nap, but sometimes if its too comfortable, that powernap turns into a regular nap.
If the nap is too long, I might wake up groggy, but definitely more alert and ready to do more.

I don't think I've ever had a nap for 15 minutes, but 1 hour yes. Except I call it a Granny Nap, lol.

Hey Guys, I love my power Naps.

From research that's been done they say that the best time to power nap is around midday and can be either before or after lunch (I prefer after lunch) and the best amount of time to power nap is around 20 to 25 minutes. I use a count-down timer and set it for 28 minutes which gives me a couple of minutes to drift off. If I have trouble quietening my mind I recite the Lord's Prayer in my mind and the repetition of that seems to easily stop the mind chatter and I drift off into my refreshing power nap.

My definition of a power nap is anything under 30 minutes whilst I feel a nap is where you set no expectation (or timer) and you nap for whatever amount of time from when you nod off to when you wake which may be a couple of hours later.

Long live the power nap!!

Robbie T

I always use power naps to rest because I generally sleep late, so the power nap at around 3 or 4 pm helps me to work effectively. It's a must for entrepreneurs who spend hours front of their computer.

Hi guys
A power nap is designed to give you a feeling of a recharge and is typically done during the day. It should be NO LONGER than 25 minutes as you then start to go into a deeper form of sleep which will cause you to wake up tired, something you are looking to prevent.
Research has shown that you will feel more alert if you have 20 minutes during the day rather than an extra 20 minutes in the morning.
If you are going to have a full on nap, leave it for the evening.
Aaron Morton

I usually go have some nap for at least an hour everyday in my home and going a full nice nap in the evening to keep me away from stress and anxiety.

I'm with You, RobbieT!

Mentally reciting the Lord's Prayer (in a habitual daily "Praydown at High Noon"), always helps set the tone for my "Power Naps"!

...Long Live Napping!!!

The Best is yet to come.....

-thetrusted1

......i agree with AaronMorton..

zzzzz.....Wot you say something.....zzzzz

I haven't napped in awhile, but I used to like a power nap after I came home from regular work. Since I've been my own boss FT, there hasn't been any cause to do this in the last few years.

BUT

What I did was lie down in bed on my back. I'm a side sleeper so this was never quite going to let me get into a deep sleep. Now here's the fun part.

Imagine there's a running river of energy waaaaay down below your consciousness. You don't really have to imagine this, because it's true. And as you lie there, your consciousness is dropping deeper, deeper towards unconsciousness and that river of energy...and if you can *bounce* your conscious thought off that running river of energy like I could--

*POP*

You're back wide awake within 20 minutes, refreshed and ready to go for a bunch more hours.

That's how I used to do it.

Being a hypnotist myself, I've experimented with all kinds of techniques for relaxation & rejuvenation - from hypnosis to meditation, power napping, breathing techniques, etc..

The simplest solution that I found works for me wonderfully is sitting on a sofa (or lying comfortably anywhere) breating deeply, clearing my mind and relaxing every muscle of my body. It doesn't take long, and it purges most, if not all of the stress out of my system. When I get up I feel rejuvenated and more energized. The mind becomes clearer and I can keep on working on my IM business.

Hypnosis would be the second option, especially when I want to enjoy the benefits of (auto)suggestion while I relax.

I actually just woke up from a nap! lol Aaaaah the joys of working at home.
Most of my "power naps" end up becoming nap naps (about 2 hours) but then again I don't have children and I work at night too. I never wake myself up from a dream because they give me valuable information so I just let them go on until I wake up.
All my napping takes place on my wonderful sofa with my two dogs and it is the perfect remedy for a headache, stress, etc.
Thanks for posting
Frith,
Kayla

sometimes i just meditate and i go somewere in my mind that isnt a sleep or a nap...but i come away with real power to do what i got to do....try it people

A power nap when you need to recharge so that you can continue working on a project. I think it should last a maximum of 30 minutes, with 20 being the sweet spot. A nap is more self indulgent and can be as long as you like. Something for a lazy afternoon.

I use an audio called Power Siesta for power naps. It has white noise to mask out external sounds and a steady rhythm to lull the mind.

My favorite place to nap is in my hammock in the sun. Now that is winter I have a fleece sleeping bag I like to stay warm in. I try to keep my power naps under 40 minutes. I wish I could do those 15 or 20 minute power naps but it has always taken me a long time to fall asleep. Too much thinking haha. I used to never nap, but now I really appreciate them.

Polyphasic sleep has always interested me but the amount of dedication and time needed to get attuned to it would be too much for me.

One of the best things to come from it though is that you go straight to R.E.M. sleep, meaning that you dream straight away.

R.E.M. sleep is the time when you actually get recharged for the next day. The few hours before that (for a normal sleep pattern) is useless.

PS. I'm launching an ebook around the whole subject if any of you were interested in being a JV for it or would like a review copy.
It will be finished in a few weeks.

Yes I do when I can. I miss them when I can't.

• Nap is just laying down or reclining back and out of inactivity just falling off into Z's
• A power nap is a controlled time that you focus on just relaxing and forcing thoughts out of you head. You listen to the quietness or maybe just listen to yourself breathe. Innnn....Oooout..... Innnn........ Oooouuut.... In.... Out.... In.... Out.... In.... Out.... In.... Out.......zzzzzzzz .....SNAP OUT OF IT! YOUR NOT HYPNOTIZED!
• 15-45 min (set brain clock snooze alarm)
• Where ever my busy day will allow me. If in office I close door and silent phones. If on road, in my car where ever practical and safe.
• The pick up is not immediate some times for me but later in the day and into evening I really notice it.

May I please get off the couch now? :rolleyes:

ld Dog

Power napping has never worked for me!
I just wake up with less energy than I had in the begginging!

if I start feeling drowsy and scattered I typically make an expresso, drink it, and nap for 15-30 minutes. It takes caffeine around 15 minutes to kick in so by the time I wake it's go time.

I power nap almost daily. Keep it under 20 minutes or I can get groggy. Sometimes I'll power nap for 3 or 6 minutes if need be. When all else fails, I shut my eyes for 60 seconds and breathe in and out deeply. Shutting my eyes knocks out most of the stimulation coming into my brain.

~Jeff

I've read that a 20 minute power nap is almost as refreshing as 8 hours of sleep.
In my own experience, if I set an alarm for 20 minutes and get up when it goes off, I do feel refreshed. If I lay there longer, even 10 more minutes, I feel groggy.

Longer naps make me groggy too, but sometimes they are necessary.

i like it.

I did it for a while, now its hard to fit in my schedule. I only have time after work but don't want to do it because I think I will have trouble falling asleep at night.

Basically, I used to do anywhere from 15-30 mins, there is all this research out there about optimal timing for different phases, but more than an 40 minutes and you feel like crap after. 20 minutes and you are good and fresh, as long as you get up right away. Also, don't think of nap as actually falling asleep, lie down somewhere and close your eyes, after a few days of doing this your body will get used to going into rest-mode when you do this.

Sometimes you are actually asleep other times you are in a semiconscious state, like when you wake up it doesn't feel like you were sleeping, it just felt like you closed your eyes for a second, but if you get up right away drink some cold water you will feel fresh.

Also, look at the clock and set a goal to wake up on x minutes. for example, its 2:00PM I will sleep for 20 mins and wake up at 2:20PM. For some odd reason it sometimes works out very well or if not very close to it. This isn't some voodoo crap, your brain and body have been aware of tracking time and are usually better at it than your conscious mind.

All in all, just focus on closing your eyes and giving your body some rest, if you need to use an alarm, but don't worry about actually falling asleep, then you will spend your time worrying instead of sleeping, and don't worry if your mind is scattering in different directions, just try to relax. And once the time is over, GET UP!!! Seriously, if you go back to sleep you will feel like crap after.

I'm into naps 30 mins to 60 mins. I also have a timer that I use - it's not too loud because I'm a Grizzly when woken the wrong way. I habitually wake up from a deep sleep 5 to 1 minutes before the alarm rings. Bright eyed and bushy tailed.

A power nap for me is when I'm dog tired and the nap lasts around two hours.

....LOL......The problem is,.....I like LOOOOOOOVE coffee so much that,......

more times than not,.....I'm just straight-up all energy all the time.

So yeah,...I literally force myself to take that mid-day "power nap" to meditate, recharge, etc....

Naps Rule! I'm all for it! Shoot!,..even if it forces me to slow down...... We all need it in some timeframe or another!

Aiight,.....gotta go nap now.

Cheerio!

Respect.
-thetrusted1

28-minute power nap using Silva Method recording feels like slept 4 hours and return extremely refreshed and alert. Awesome!


Dave

I have always done the power napping. Myself, I feel more tired after a long, regular nap so I set my alarm and nap for about 15 to 20 minutes and then I feel awesome and very refreshed.

never heard of the silva method. Is it one of those paraliminal tapes?

Yup the power nap comments here are great - power nap does not get me into a REM sleep or anything. I just look at it as a NEURAL REBOOT ... connecting the breathe with deep belly breathing that empties the mind to create expanding space. I have run many 100 mile ultra marathon distances... I can tell you from experience the miracles that come from pausing 15 mins ... lying on the ground with feet on a chair.... 32 hrs of constant moving and no sleep... the 15 min break when perfected can give you another 10 hrs! Great question!

Naps can last hours. Power naps are measured in minutes. My best power naps are in the 15-30 minute range. I take them at varying times. Mostly at lunch. Sometimes right after dinner. It seems eating is the catalyst for my sleepiness.

Would you recommend the Silva Method to someone who just wants to recharge their energy? I think a nap should suffice, along with a good diet, but does the Silva method have any other benefits

I think it's amamzing how effective a 15 minute nap (power nap ?) can be. I like to do this on a LONG drives...when I'm by myself. It's one of the best safety tips I can think of !

I spent 10 years living as a missionary in the Philippines. Everyday in the province, nearly everyone took a nap. Many local businesses closed shop for 1 - 2 hours. It was actually refreshing, and hard to give up once I returned back to the US. Now, 14 years later, I still enjoy taking a nap. It also helps me to work a little later into the evening when things quite down around the house.

Love power naps.

I have recently started doing caffeine naps way more powerful, You take a double shot espresso and you immediately take a nap, for about 20 - 30 min, it takes about 30 min for the caffeine to kick in, as you start to wake up you get that extra kick from the espresso.

Warning: Not recommended for those sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or nursing.

Only if I am on vacation can I power nap. Otherwise they just turn into regular naps. Lolol.

Power naps are one of those things that I think sound awesome because all the research suggests that they help with productivity but napping doesn't come naturally to me and I haven't devoted the time to acquire the habit.

Thats my problem : Too lazy to nap

When I was younger and in my offline business, I did what I called a power nap which meant I napped in my private office with a do not disturb sign and told my assistant not to have anyone disturb for 15 minute usually. Then I'd have her wake me up by buzzing me on the intercom.

Back then, I worked 16-18 hours a day, 7 days a week and needed naps.

Now, I don't nap because it would never be just 15 minutes. ;-)

When I sleep now, it is for hours.

But I don't work such long hours either.

I nap almost every day for 20-30 minutes. I get up really early, and am usually ready for a brief nap after lunch, which keeps me going until dinner. It's either that or a caffeine break. My cats like to nap with me so I guess you could call it cat napping.

Personally, I think napping is stupid. My mentor once told me that the greatest people knew they had to sacrifice sleep for success. Now, I'm not saying that I don't hit the brick wall at 2pm every day because I do. I just like to use coffee or some form of long lasting energy to help me get over that hump. If you absolutely need a nap then I would say to nap for just under 20 minutes. This allows you to complete a REM cycle and when you wake up you'll feel much more energetic!

I don't like naps and find they leave me groggy when I wake up. But, I notice that as a morning person i give my day a full thrust and then my mind is clouded and I start feeling more tense in the early afternoon.

I am experimenting with breaks of different kinds in the middle of the day to recharge me, but not so long that I don't end up putting in the rest of the hours I want to. I just hate working in the evenings.

I believe that deep relaxation exercises or meditating does more for you than simply going to sleep, as your mind goes into a parasympathetic state that actually undoes the stress, whereas sleeping really doesn't. Even exercise I believe is more productive for me than a nap.

I had never heard of "caffeine naps" either, but interesting concept. I do remember, I think I was drinking one of the energy drinks, and taking a power nap right afterward thinking it wouldn't kick in for a bit but didn't think anyone did something like a "caffeine nap" on a regular basis. Have you seen if there is a lot of difference in doing a plain power nap versus a caffeine power nap? Just curious if I should change it up if one works better than the other.

sometime I do that, but for everyday I just take "normal" sleep