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How to nap: Power napping without sleeping

danieltenner.com

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Re: How to nap: Power napping without sleeping

#31

Post by petercooper »

fuzzmeister wrote: post #23
swombat wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're lucky that you can do that! I've never been able to sleep with a voice speaking nearby. I don't think I've ever fallen asleep while watching a movie, ever, for example. Even after a big night out, exhausted, wanting to sleep, I had to go and switch off the TV to be able to fall asleep.

Exactly, I am absolutely incapable of getting my brain not to interpret what a speaking voice is saying.

Oh man, I can't remember ever attending a meeting where I didn't phase out..

Re: How to nap: Power napping without sleeping

#32

Post by petercooper »

swombat wrote: post #15
petercooper wrote: post #14

I will lie in bed, awake, forever thinking and rethinking whatever happens to be on my mind at the time. That was me until I got some earphones and went to bed listening to podcasts every time. Having another voice chattering away (which I can ignore) stops my inner voice (which I can't ignore) chattering away. Works a treat.

You're lucky that you can do that! I've never been able to sleep with a voice speaking nearby. I don't think I've ever fallen asleep while watching a movie, ever, for example. Even after a big night out, exhausted, wanting to sleep, I had to go and switch off the TV to be able to fall asleep.

You're lucky that you can do that! I've never been able to sleep with a voice speaking nearby.

Yeah, but the problem is if I don't, I have a voice in my head talking instead. Literally, my internal voice is "talking" in my head non-stop all day coming up with ideas, figuring out what to do, complaining about crap, etc. Perhaps it's a mental illness but I never considered it a problem (yet). :-)

Re: How to nap: Power napping without sleeping

#35

Post by swombat »

eru wrote: post #28
swombat wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. You may be right... but if I derive all the typical benefits of napping (increased alertness, ability to go for extended periods of a few weeks with a lot less sleep, etc), is it not fair to call it napping? After all, if it quacks like a duck... Also, it does happen, though probably no more than 1 out of 5 times, that I actually drift into a dream state while napping, which I would consider equivalent t…

Do you get lucid dreams? I am quite prone to lucid dreaming, especially when napping or getting back into bed after waking up in the morning.

I've only had a couple of lucid dreams in my life, unfortunately (that I can remember). I wish I had more - they were both very enjoyable.

I think part of the problem for me is that my dreams are so insane that it's very difficult for me to implement mnemonic-induced lucid dreaming.

Re: How to nap: Power napping without sleeping

#36

Post by swombat »

philwelch wrote: post #34

I'm somehow amused at the fact that he could easily get away with dozing off in a restroom stall at his old workplace.

People don't notice that you're away from your desk for 20 minutes - at least not in my line of work.

When the weather got warmer, I went outside to nap in the grass instead.

As for my productivity, I'm pretty sure it was greatly enhanced by the fact that I was napping.

Re: How to nap: Power napping without sleeping

#37

Post by swombat »

petercooper wrote: post #32
swombat wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're lucky that you can do that! I've never been able to sleep with a voice speaking nearby. I don't think I've ever fallen asleep while watching a movie, ever, for example. Even after a big night out, exhausted, wanting to sleep, I had to go and switch off the TV to be able to fall asleep.

You're lucky that you can do that! I've never been able to sleep with a voice speaking nearby. Yeah, but the problem is if I don't, I have a voice in my head talking instead. Literally, my internal voice is "talking" in my head non-stop all day coming up with ideas, figuring out what to do, complaining about crap, etc. Perhaps it's a mental illness but I never considered it a problem (yet). :-)

Oh, so do I. But if I have the voice outside my head, that also keeps me awake. The voice inside my head eventually tires out or drifts off, but the voice coming out of the TV is infatigable. It keeps going all night.

Re: How to nap: Power napping without sleeping

#38

Post by petercooper »

swombat wrote: post #37
petercooper wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're lucky that you can do that! I've never been able to sleep with a voice speaking nearby. Yeah, but the problem is if I don't, I have a voice in my head talking instead. Literally, my internal voice is "talking" in my head non-stop all day coming up with ideas, figuring out what to do, complaining about crap, etc. Perhaps it's a mental illness but I never considered it a problem (yet). :-)

Oh, so do I. But if I have the voice outside my head, that also keeps me awake. The voice inside my head eventually tires out or drifts off, but the voice coming out of the TV is infatigable. It keeps going all night.

I must just have inherited my dad's skill. My mom used to have entire conversations with my dad and he'd admit afterwards that he "hadn't been listening" and couldn't answer a single question about it. I do the same with my wife.. oops.

Re: How to nap: Power napping without sleeping

#39

Post by fallintothis »

wallflower wrote: post #24

"The painter Salvador Dali used to employ the following trick to have the best nap ever: Hold a coffee spoon (or something else—use your imagination) in your hand. Sit and relax on a comfy couch or chair with your arm hanging. When you go into deep sleep (after about 20-30 minutes) your hand will relax and release the spoon, and the sound of the spoon falling will wake you up. That is the perfect timing for the best…

This also works wonders with a lightly-held pencil when you're falling asleep in class. Kept me awake through many early-morning lectures.

Re: How to nap: Power napping without sleeping

#40

Post by gommm »

petercooper wrote: post #31
fuzzmeister wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly, I am absolutely incapable of getting my brain not to interpret what a speaking voice is saying.

Oh man, I can't remember ever attending a meeting where I didn't phase out..

Meetings are special cases, on the contrary to podcasts and audiobooks they are designed to be boring :-)

But yes I think I'm the same as you, I can ignore what other people are saying to me (my girlfriend hates that) but it's hard to ignore my own internal voice.

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