Be Well By Dr. Frank Lipman
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Frank Lipman
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I am the founder and director of the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in New York City, where my personal blend of Western and many other medicines, what I call Good Medicine, has helped thousands of people recover their energy and zest for life.
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Snooze for Success: Power Naps Go Legit
Frank LipmanApril 05
There’s nothing lovelier than the sight of a child napping – such a sweet, enviable state, and one that I believe grown-ups should also be able to enjoy as well, without being thought of as peculiar or lazy. A short 20-minute power nap has been shown to provide a fresh burst of new ideas and energy and to eliminate the need for caffeine boosts during the workday and after too. Even NASA research supports the idea that napping improves alertness, creativity and performance in those who make time for a short snooze. Still not convinced? Then you might want to take a look at the recent New York Times article, which outed many NBA athletes as frequent nappers who use power snoozes to help boost performance, particularly on game days.
OK, so let’s say you’d like to get into a napping groove but you’re a 9-to-5er, not an NBA-er. It’s still possible to slip in a mid-day snooze – you just have to think creatively and develop your strategy. Before you know it, you’ll be snoozing like a pro. Here’s how:
Unless your workplace actually encourages napping, snoozing off-site is career-wise, probably the safest choice, although some of my patients say they can occasionally catch a few zzzz’s at their desk. To reap the benefits of a power nap and truly relax your body and mind, you’ll need a quiet, private spot that’s as close to bed-like comfort as possible. Office-cube dwellers might want to try NYC’s Yelo Spa, which offers 20 – 40 minute power nap sessions, complete with customized aromatherapy, sounds and lighting (priced from $15-$28). Another option would be to take a quick nap in your car or if you live in a big city, in a local park. But bring along a buddy to watch your stuff while you nap, and be ready to return the favor when your buddy needs a power snooze.
Don’t start napping after 4pm. Later naps can upset your body rhythms, making it harder to fall asleep at night.
The best naps are short ones, so keep them short and sweet. The optimal time is said to be no more than 20 minutes. When you drift into the 30 minute range, sleep inertia tends to set in, leaving you dragging through rest of the day in a post-nap fog. If you “fail” to actually fall asleep, don’t let it bother you – simply use the 20 minutes to meditate and clear your head. You’ll still reap some napping benefits. Eventually, as your body becomes more used to a mid-day break, falling asleep faster for a short nap will become second nature.
Aside from a comfortable place to stretch out, the other key ingredient in the power nap pantheon is the alarm clock. Set a clock or timer to keep you from sleeping the afternoon away and to insure that you return to the land of the alert in a reasonable amount of time.
Too bright to fall asleep? Then whip out an eye-mask or a pair of big, dark movie-star shades to help approximate darker conditions. Close blinds and turn off lights. Also remember to completely turn off/power down your desk phone ringer, your Iphone, Blackberry or anything else that buzzes, whirs, honks or blinks to prepare your napping environment. When total silence isn’t possible, add a pair of headphones and play soothing, instrumental music to help you drift off.
When the alarm goes off, you must obey! Get right up before you start sleepily hitting the snooze button. Splash some cold water on your face, flip the lights and your computer back on, and try jogging in place or moving around for a minute to restart your brain and body.