Any professional nap-takers in the house?

[xom3gawave]

I went out and partied and got hammered last night on vodka energy drinks. I slept for about three hours. I get off work at probably 3:00pm today. Someone told me there is some interval that you should take naps in, like 45 minute increments, so that you get all of the sleep cycles.

What works best for you?

 

[Gibsons]

If I sleep for 30-45 minutes I can usually get up and about pretty soon. Start getting into the hour range and I hit the deep sleep where it's tough to get going again.

 

[TwiceOver]

I usually nap for about an hour or two right after work. This allows me to stay up till 12 or 1, sleep and get back up at 5am.

 

[Crono]

I pick up 30 minutes to 1 hour on the train or in the afternoon when I'm home. I only need a nap if I had less than 6 hours of sleep, though.

There really isn't an interval you need to follow, your body should wake you up on its own.

 

[FelixDeCat]

brb nap

 

[xom3gawave]

There have been a few occasions where I have napped, then woken up and felt even worse. What is up with that?

Should I maybe only knock out an hour and a half or something? I don't plan on going out tonight.

 

[krylon]

Originally posted by: om3gawave
There have been a few occasions where I have napped, then woken up and felt even worse. What is up with that?

Should I maybe only knock out an hour and a half or something? I don't plan on going out tonight.

weaksauce

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: om3gawave
There have been a few occasions where I have napped, then woken up and felt even worse. What is up with that?

Should I maybe only knock out an hour and a half or something? I don't plan on going out tonight.

Might be too much sleep, or uncomfortable position while napping. Try 30 minute to 45 minute nap, any more and your body might go into deeper sleep if you aren't used to napping, and waking up from that will leave you groggy as hell.

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: om3gawave
There have been a few occasions where I have napped, then woken up and felt even worse. What is up with that?

Should I maybe only knock out an hour and a half or something? I don't plan on going out tonight.

You wake up groggy and feeling worse if you don't finish your REM cycles properly, like if you wake up in the middle of one. REM cycles usually start around 30-45 minutes, so the maximum naps I usually take are 25-40 minutes in length. Otherwise, plan for an hour and a half to two hours. Then you should have completed one REM cycle and hopefully can wake up before the next one.

 

[fulltilt39]

AAHHH...the good old days of being young. <sigh>

I remember partying like 4x/week and taking 30 min naps in my car at lunchtime and feeling great and ready to party again the next night. LOL

Enjoy it while you can! (some of us are slightly jealous...)

 

[BoomerD]

I'm not a professional, but I AM a very experienced amateur...

(wait...if you nap at work...and get paid for it, does that make you a professional? If so, then I guess I AM a professional)


I've never found that "sweet spot" for getting the most rest from a cat-nap. I need 2 hours or more...

HOWEVER, in years gone by, I used to take quick 15-30 minute naps to recharge...but it took a while to come out of the coma.

 

[JDub02]

a few jobs ago, i used to nap at lunch. the bench seat of my truck was great for that. now, the parking lot is about a 8-10 minute walk from my office and lunch is only 1/2 hour. doesn't leave me much napping time.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

15-20 min naps are the best.... any more and you get closer to deep sleep. trust me, it works very well. i used to do it during college if i felt sleepy. say 11:40 - midnight? Nap.... if all went well I'd get up and be charged to do HW. If all went bad, I'd wake up at 6am and go OH SHIT I DIDNT DO MY HW YET.

45 min is too long....

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
15-20 min naps are the best.... any more and you get closer to deep sleep. trust me, it works very well. i used to do it during college if i felt sleepy. say 11:40 - midnight? Nap.... if all went well I'd get up and be charged to do HW. If all went bad, I'd wake up at 6am and go OH SHIT I DIDNT DO MY HW YET.

45 min is too long....

Yeah, if you are going to take a nap at around midnight, 15 minutes is more on order.
For an afternoon nap to allow you to stay up late, then 30 minutes - 45 minutes is perfect.

15-20 minute naps are perfect for unplanned naps, like when you are traveling in a car, bus or train, or if you are at work or in school. They work great for catchup naps if you have been going without enough sleep for a few days or more.

OP, I say try a 30 minute nap first. If you feel too groggy afterward, sleep less next time. If you don't feel refreshed enough, Add more time (in 10 - 15 minute increments). Make sure you don't drink any caffeinated drinks before nap time (lol) or do any serious exercise right before.

 

[cthulhu]

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: DLeRium
15-20 min naps are the best.... any more and you get closer to deep sleep.

15-20 minute naps are perfect for unplanned naps, like when you are traveling in a car, bus or train, or if you are at work or in school. They work great for catchup naps if you have been going without enough sleep for a few days or more.

I take naps during my lunch hour for 15-20 minutes. I look forward to them everyday.

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: cthulhu

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: DLeRium
15-20 min naps are the best.... any more and you get closer to deep sleep.

15-20 minute naps are perfect for unplanned naps, like when you are traveling in a car, bus or train, or if you are at work or in school. They work great for catchup naps if you have been going without enough sleep for a few days or more.

I take naps during my lunch hour for 15-20 minutes. I look forward to them everyday.

You're a monster.