5 Tricks for the Best Nap Ever
Naps used to get a bad rap, conjuring up all sorts of unfortunateand unfairimages of slackers, rambunctious kindergarteners in need of time outs, and AARP members looking to rest their weary bones. Not anymore. A 2013 Gallup Poll revealed that 40 of Americans get less than the recommended seven hours of sleep a night what's more 43 admitted they'd feel better if they got more sleep. So it makes sense that we'd try to catch some extra zzz's whenever and sometimes wherever we can. And more and more people are doing just that. Companies like Google, Ben  Jerry's and Proctor and Gamble encourage employees to take nap breaks. The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is one of several colleges to set up rooms for napping. Located in the school's library, UM's nap station is equipped with vinyl cots, disposable pillowcases, and a 30-minute time limit. And Barclays PLC, a global financial group, got some unwanted publicity last year, when the Wall Street Journal revealed that exhausted interns were slipping into stalls to take "toilet naps," using their phones as an alarm. And then there's Google Naps, a parody of Google Maps, which can tell you the best places in your city to catch a few winksfrom libraries to park benches. HEALTH.COM Best and Worst Foods for Sleep, Before you Type A's get all judgy, know this Feeling sleepy before bedtime is completely normal. Our body's internal biological clock otherwise known as circadian rhythm, which regulates our physical, mental, and emotional changes 24/7, also controls our wakefulness. According to research from Harvard Medical School, we usually feel alert during the day then gradually become sleepy as we move toward evening. But some of us experience a bout of mid-afternoon drowsiness, and a quick snooze can be just the ticket for handling that fuzzy feeling. What's more, studies show that there is a virtual laundry list of benefits to be had from nabbing some shut-eye hey, they don't call it a power nap for nothing. Among them A nap can boost brain power, make you more alert, and improve your memory. Oh, it can also help your waistline lack of sleep can trigger hunger and could lead to overeating. And now that the weather's turned ridiculously cold in the some parts of the country, anyway, can you think of a better time to indulge in a little cozy midday shut-eye? Here's how to get the most from hibernating, As with many things in life, timing is everything. "Basically, the best time for a nap is as close to the middle of the day as possible," says Michael Grandner, PhD, psychiatry instructor at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. "Before lunch is too early," says Grander. "Lie down too late in the day and it will interfere with your nighttime sleep. Now it's getting darker earlier and daylight has shifted, so probably not before noon and not after 300.", HEALTH.COM 7 Bedtime Behaviors That Will Help You Sleep, Telling yourself, "I'll lay down for however long I sleep" is not a great idea. You need figure out a set length of time for your nap and set the alarm. Ideally, a power nap should be 20 to 30 minutes. "You can go to 60 minutes, though once you go beyond 30 minutes, you get diminishing returns as far as improving brain function and reaping other benefits from your nap," says Grandner. Plus, he says, if you extend your nap past 60 minutes, you'll enter into a deeper or slow-wave stage of sleep and might wake up feeling groggywhich could affect how the rest of your day goes. Your bed signals to your body that you're nodding off for the night and can put you in a nighttime sleep mode. What you're looking for, says Grandner, is a place that's comfy, but not too comfy. The couch is your friend. HEALTH.COM 11 Surprising Health Benefits of Sleep, Be protective of your sleep space, says Grandner. You're looking for a place that's as quiet as possible consider a white noise machine or ear plugs to drown out any noise. It should be dark enough to close your eyes, but not pitch dark. "You don't want to confuse your brain into thinking you're retiring for the night," says Grandner. The temperature shouldn't be too hot or coldslightly cool is ideal for maximum comfort. If you're too hot or too cold, your body has to regulate its temperature, which might make it hard to relax., It might seem counter-intuitive, but a 2003 Japanese study found that downing a cup of Joe right before settling down can contribute to a restful nap. Here's why Caffeine doesn't kick in until about 20 to 30 minutes after it's ingested. So you'll wake up just as the coffee is taking effectand feel wonderfully refreshed. Looking for a doze at work? Grandner assures that rest, even without sleep, can be beneficial. Just relax, close your eyes, take deep breaths, and you'll perk back up in 20 to 30 minutes. In fact, we may have found just the thing to help you wind down during your 9-to-5 Meet the Nutshell sleep pod, a wearable sack of blissful solitude, designed by a resourceful student at the New York School of Visual Arts. It's just a prototype right now, but fingers crossed. Hey, it beats hanging out in a restroom stall, right?, HEALTH.COM 7 Tips for the Best Sleep Ever, This article originally appeared on Health.com.