napping

[eviljeff]

I often find a short nap during the day very refreshing, and much more useful caffeine. Usually I take these in less than ideal spots - in a hot car, in a lecture hall (undergrad), on a random bench like a bum, on a bus/plane, etc. The sleep itself is usually the uncomfortable type of nodding off and semi waking up, but when I fully wake up after 10-30 min I feel instantly rejuvenated.

I also sometimes get in a sleep cycle where I sleep <5 hours during the night, wake up, go to class, and take a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon. These long naps are always in my bed at home and after I wake up I'm groggy for the rest of the day and confused about what happened on the same day pre-nap and what happened on other days. My productivity for the rest of the day decreases dramatically.

I don't have any earth-shattering conclusions, just wanted to hear other people's thoughts on napping.

[traz]

i love naps

[ChuckyB]

I'm stupid enough to not get enough sleep at night (because that 3:00 a.m. King of the Hill rerun is just so captivating...apparently). I find if I get in a 7-minute nap at some point, I am flying for the rest of the night.

[RR]

When I was in grad school I would often nap on the table in the conference room where most of my classes were. That way when people would start coming in for the class I would wake up and be there.

[HighandDry]

Anything over 20-30 minutes and I feel worse than I did prior to the nap.

Edit: I loved napping on teh bus ride home from school.

[guids]

If you nap for more than 30 minutes you trick your body into thinking that its "bedtime", and "you dont get enough sleep" this is why you wake up in a fog, limit your nap to like 20 minutes to avoid this. the best naps are in the hot sun after a swim

[NIX]

The OP describes my life perfectly for the last 8 years. I agree with every word of it.

[Mike Gallo]

EvilJeff,

Last year at this time I had to wake up every day at 5:30am.
I used to take a 35 minute power nap every day at noon.
Nothing refreshed me more than those 35 minutes.

Now suppose I went home and I napped for over an hour I would feel as you described, groggy and just completely out of it.

Nothing better than a nice 35 minute power nap to refocus.

[GSykes]

I for one love naps, preferably longer ones.

[silver book]

napping gives u the gey