The stigma around napping in American workplaces is slowly changing, in light of the growing recognition that sleep (even the daytime kind) can help productivity.
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00:00Is anyone else just so tired lately?
00:04I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted.
00:07Getting through the day can be really hard.
00:09Sometimes you just gotta take a nap.
00:15I'm Meg Zuckan, I work at Time Magazine,
00:17and napping, it's not just for babies anymore.
00:20But there is a correct way to do it.
00:21So stay awake, and I'll teach you how to take the perfect nap.
00:25Timing is everything.
00:26For most people, the best time to take a nap
00:28is between 1 and 4 p.m.
00:30But experts recommend staying consistent.
00:32That means you want to take your nap
00:33around the same time every afternoon.
00:35As for the length of your nap,
00:36most professionals recommend taking a nap
00:38that's around 20 to 40 minutes.
00:40But 15 to 20 minute naps have benefits too.
00:42If you're hardcore, feel free to sleep even longer.
00:44Once you get through the deep sleep stage,
00:46your brain will cycle back to lighter sleep after 60 minutes.
00:49It may sound counterintuitive,
00:51but drinking some coffee before your nap
00:53can actually make you feel more invigorated
00:55by the time you wake up.
00:56Metabolizing coffee takes around 30 minutes,
00:58or the length of an ideal nap,
01:00meaning that you'll wake up right as it's kicking in,
01:02feeling perfectly energized.
01:03Of course, if you're hypersensitive to caffeine,
01:06you can skip this step.
01:07True nap professionals often create
01:09the perfect environment for their naps.
01:11Sleeping eye masks, white noise machines, and earplugs
01:13can help simulate a nap pod.
01:15Not everyone needs to nap, but they do need to rest.
01:17So if napping isn't your thing,
01:19try closing your eyes for two minutes,
01:21like I'm doing now.
01:22It's helping already.
01:26For more information, visit www.FEMA.gov