Napping is a lovely activity that’s not only beneficial for children. Then again, right now you’re probably thinking, “When do I have time for a nap?”, and time alone with your eyes closed may seem impossible. The benefits from a daily nap, however, certainly surpass the trouble you might go through to take one. According to The Huffington Post, benefits of naps include: increased patience, lower blood pressure, strengthen memory, and boost creativity throughout the day. So basically, a proper nap can help fix most of life’s problems.
On the other hand, if you’re already taking a daily nap and haven’t been experiencing any positive results, we have the one nap hack you need to know. For decades, researchers have been trying to find ways to help adults take better advantage of naps — and finally, a method was discovered. The best naps of your life are waiting.
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Exhausted and need a nap?
Before you get all cuddled up and cozy, drink a cup of coffee. This may sound contradictory, but trust us, it’s genius. According to a 2003 study featured on Clinical Neuropsychology, researchers found that if a caffeinated beverage was consumed prior to a 20-minute nap, participants felt more alert upon waking up. (Should we call this the “nappuccino hack”?)
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According to The Huffington Post, it takes caffeine approximately 20 minutes to begin working. Therefore, if you take a 20-minute nap after drinking your caffeinated beverage, you’ll wake up refreshed with an extra boost of energy for at least four more hours. This is perfect for anyone who drinks multiple cups of coffee throughout the day, but doesn’t feel any sort of energy boost.
Next time you’re feeling zombie-like, try taking a quick snooze after your mid-day coffee. That way you won’t need a third or fourth cup to bring you back to life.
If you’re not a caffeine drinker, we have a hack for you, too.
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According to the same 2003 study, the next best option is to take a 20-minute nap and wash your face immediately after you wake up. Post-nap performance levels were still high with this method because participants were able to stave off drowsiness by immediately getting up and splashing some water on their faces.
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Whether you’re a caffeine drinker or not, these simple hacks will make sure you get the most out of every nap. Who doesn’t want that dream to come true?