Caffeine naps are my secret "crunch time" weapon. It's astounding how effective they are - it feels like a reboot. I wake up feeling like I've been out for 8 hours. The effect only lasts for a couple of hours post-nap, but it's often enough to get you over the hump.
Coffee naps are better than coffee or naps alone
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Re: Coffee naps are better than coffee or naps alone
#32What is the tolerance level for naps in silicon valley companies (both big and small)? Does it depend on the role/position? Wouldn't they rather have all their employees down mugs of coffee instead of taking even a quick nap?
Re: Coffee naps are better than coffee or naps alone
#33This works well with other stimulants and other medications too. Take methylphenidate and an opioid, take a quick nap, wake up feeling fantastic.
It's also got emotional benefits. If you are feeling down, then simply waiting for the medicine to do its job can make things worse, as your mind goes in a negative spiral. Taking a nap can give you peace that you're just putting everything aside and going to concentrate on the warmth of the nap and a dream. And before you know it, bam - everything's perfect again.
Re: Coffee naps are better than coffee or naps alone
#34I found this by experience few years ago. It works. At first, I started with naps, and drinking coffee after. Accidentally I had few times coffee before nap, and noticed the difference. But I don't recommend this kind of nap all the time - because after a while it's not that effective. So, after years of napping (I'm an expert - I became so good at napping, that I can fall a sleep in 1-2 minutes, and wake up without…
> I can fall a sleep in 1-2 minutes, and wake up without alarm after 15-20 minutes Any advice on how you were able to achieve this ability? I always try to take a quick nap but can never fall asleep fas t enough for it to be effective.
Breathe in a count of 2 and out a count of 1.
Sleep with your mouth open, but breathe only through your nose.
Remember that quiet resting with eyes shut is 80% as good as sleeping when it comes to naps.
Re: Coffee naps are better than coffee or naps alone
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I can fall a sleep in 1-2 minutes, and wake up without alarm after 15-20 minutes Any advice on how you were able to achieve this ability? I always try to take a quick nap but can never fall asleep fas t enough for it to be effective.
Two techniques from my experience: - 'walk back' in your mind to center yourself away from forebrain activity and visual activity (this is a visualization technique) - cover your back with something insulated and/or warm. The less your back is staying tensed against chill air, the more physically relaxed you can be. I have a Thinsulate-filled sleeping bag that I use like a throw for this as it reflects body heat bett…
Could you please expand on the "walk back" thing? Also, any links, books? Thanks.
Re: Coffee naps are better than coffee or naps alone
#36I have found that a Provigil/Nuvigil nap works wonders. Take a Provigil and take a nap. When you wake up you'll be crisp morning-fresh.
I used to do similar before pulling all-nighters in college. I would take an adderall and go to sleep around 11pm, my normal bedtime, then after a 30 minute nap I'd be wide awake and ready to conquer whatever project I had been procrastinating on.
Re: Coffee naps are better than coffee or naps alone
#37I found this by experience few years ago. It works. At first, I started with naps, and drinking coffee after. Accidentally I had few times coffee before nap, and noticed the difference. But I don't recommend this kind of nap all the time - because after a while it's not that effective. So, after years of napping (I'm an expert - I became so good at napping, that I can fall a sleep in 1-2 minutes, and wake up without…
> I can fall a sleep in 1-2 minutes, and wake up without alarm after 15-20 minutes Any advice on how you were able to achieve this ability? I always try to take a quick nap but can never fall asleep fas t enough for it to be effective.
When I started meditating I found it much easier to fall asleep quickly. The 'opening game' of most, if not all, mindfulness meditation is simply relaxing your body and preparing for the meditation. Turns out this is something you can get better at with practice; at least I did.
Pick up the Headspace app. You get several meditations for free and those should be enough to arm you with what you need to learn "speed relaxing".
Re: Coffee naps are better than coffee or naps alone
#38I found this by experience few years ago. It works. At first, I started with naps, and drinking coffee after. Accidentally I had few times coffee before nap, and noticed the difference. But I don't recommend this kind of nap all the time - because after a while it's not that effective. So, after years of napping (I'm an expert - I became so good at napping, that I can fall a sleep in 1-2 minutes, and wake up without…
> I can fall a sleep in 1-2 minutes, and wake up without alarm after 15-20 minutes Any advice on how you were able to achieve this ability? I always try to take a quick nap but can never fall asleep fas t enough for it to be effective.
I can at least say when I am habitually sleep deprived I find it easy to fall asleep on a whims notice.
If I get a proper 8-9 hours of sleep, I find it impossible to nap.
Maybe the insta-napping is only possible due to a more fundamental lack of sleep issue?
Re: Coffee naps are better than coffee or naps alone
#39I wish I was able to take naps. Do people can really fall asleep on command just like that when they have some spare minutes in their day? Shit, even when I am sleep deprived, I can barely fall asleep in my own bed, sometimes it literally take me hours.
When I manage to take a nap it's usually involuntary by falling asleep in front of the TV.
Re: Coffee naps are better than coffee or naps alone
#40I wish I was able to take naps. Do people can really fall asleep on command just like that when they have some spare minutes in their day? Shit, even when I am sleep deprived, I can barely fall asleep in my own bed, sometimes it literally take me hours. When I manage to take a nap it's usually involuntary by falling asleep in front of the TV.
I'm exactly the same, I find it very difficult to nap during the day even when sleep deprived. It takes me a long time to fall asleep.