PERSONAL FITNESS ARTICLES

Power Nap

A power nap is a healthier alternative to drinking lots of coffee in order to stay awake ...

I was in high school when I first began to understand the power of a power nap. I took classes at my local high school as well as at the local junior college in order to get a bit ahead before I went off to college. I also worked two part time jobs. One of those part time jobs was at a coffee house where I quickly became addicted to the stuff. A cup of coffee here and a shot of espresso there kept me going throughout each of my long days.

It didn't take very long before my hectic schedule and reliance upon caffeine proved itself to be an unwise combination. I began falling asleep in class and no amount of coffee was able to help me. It was as if I had developed a tolerance to caffeine and it no longer gave me the energy that it once did. I refused to cut back on my school or job schedules and I needed to come up with some sort of solution.

One day between school and work I fell asleep at my parents’ kitchen table. I was only asleep for about half an hour before my mother came home and reminded me that I had to get to work. I jumped up fearing that I had been asleep for hours and was very late for work but when I realized that I had only been out for about half an hour I felt relieved. Once the initial adrenaline rush calmed down I realized that beyond being relieved I was also refreshed. This moment marked the beginning of my appreciation for the power nap.

A power nap lasting twenty minutes to an hour was all I needed to get back to normal. I was able to put down my coffee mug and get a little healthy sleep here and there in order to deal with a hectic lifestyle. I would take a short power nap after school or work almost every day. Taking power naps became my new routine. If I had a full night ahead of homework, taking a power nap after I got home from work was all I needed to get the physical and mental energy necessary.

I know a lot of people who are positive that they are incapable of taking a power nap. Even though a small bit of sleep is all they need to feel better at the moment, they refuse to believe that they could simply lie down and take a power nap for just twenty minutes. It took me a couple of years to convince my roommates of the amazing benefits of a power nap but one particular college finals season finally talked to them into it. So if you are looking for a healthier alternative to constant caffeine consumption, I highly recommend you try to take a power nap. You may be very surprised at how a small amount of sleep can make all the difference.

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