Isnt life better when you can combine two wonderful things? Swimming and sunshine. Dogs and cats. Chocolate and peanut butter. Coffee andnaps? You heard me. Coffee and naps. You likely love coffee, especially in the morning, and you likely also love naps, even if you dont get to take them as often as you like. Well, this amazing new combination is here with us due to science. Wonderful science is showing us that taking some caffeine before sleeping for a short period can help boost energy levels!
This is good news for all of us, since finding the energy needed to get through the day is a problem many of us struggle with. Modern life has put unprecedented demands on human beings who are still catching up with technology. While many of us reach for caffeine regularly, sometimes coffee or tea just isnt enough. Now, though, it looks like you have a new tool to put in your energy arsenal and a pleasant one at that. In this article, well look at what is a coffee nap and how to do it effectively.
What is a Coffee Nap?
While it may seem counterintuitive to drink coffee before a nap, many people practice just this and say it gives them more energy. The theory is that taking a short nap makes your coffee, or caffeine source of choice, work better at giving you energy.
When youre tired or sleepy, your body makes a chemical called adenosine. This chemical also makes you sleepy too. But when you fall asleep, the levels of adenosine in your body lower.
Caffeine molecules use the same cell receptor sites in your body that adenosine does. This is how caffeine combats fatigue, by filling up receptors so the adenosine cant tell your body to be tired.
If you drink a cup of coffee before your nap, and your levels of adenosine naturally drop when youre sleeping, that leaves more cell receptor sites for your caffeine to fill in, which increases your brains ability to use the caffeine. This results in the effects of the coffee, or caffeine, being stronger after your nap. And we all know that a nice strong cup of coffee means energy.
And, if youre worried about a cup of coffee keeping you up while youre trying to nap, know that coffee takes time to kick in, so you wont feel the effects of your coffee until after your nap.
How to Take a Coffee Nap
Youre probably excited to try this new technique for better energy! The best way to take a coffee nap is to drink a cup of coffee (or caffeine source of your choice) right before a nap. Plan on sleeping for about 15-20 minutes. Part of this timing is based on when the caffeinated effects of coffee will be kicking in. The other reason is that sleeping for 30 minutes or more takes you into a deeper type of sleep called slow-wave. Waking up during a slow-wave sleep cycle can leave you feeling groggy and disorientated. So, however long you decide to nap for, aim for less than 30 minutes to avoid a nap hangover.
Another piece of timing to consider is how long it is before bedtime. Its recommended to stop taking caffeine six hours before you go to bed.
And finally, how much caffeine is ideal for a coffee nap? Research is showing that 200 mg, or two cups of coffee, is about the amount you want before a coffee nap to feel ready to go upon waking.
If you dont have time for a power nap, try a Seattle Gummy Mocca Shot. These delicious little caffeine chews work in less than 5 minutes and provide the same focus and alertness you can get by combining coffee + nap.
Theyre also full of healthy vitamins and nootropics (herbs and vitamins that support the brain), like energy-producing B vitamins, brain-boosting ginkgo biloba, and antioxidant-rich Dutch cocoa. If 200 mg of caffeine is too much for you, and dont worry, it is for a lot of people, you can easily only eat part of a Mocca Shot and put it back into its resealable pouch to save for later.
Coffee Nap Benefits
In summary, coffee naps help support energy, both by giving the body rest through a nap, and helping caffeine to work more efficiently in the body. Drink coffee or take caffeine right before a short nap thats less than 30 minutes. Youll wake up feeling energized and ready to face the rest of your day. And dont worry, even if you dont fully fall asleep, your body will still reap some of the benefits of a coffee nap. Give it a try and see how you feel. Even if it doesnt work, you still did two wonderful things.