Home LivingWellnessSleepCaffeine nap: what is it & does it work?Feeling sleepy? Try a caffeine nap for an extra boost of energyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Home LivingWellnessSleepCaffeine nap: what is it & does it work?Feeling sleepy? Try a caffeine nap for an extra boost of energyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Feeling sleepy? Try a caffeine nap for an extra boost of energy

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Olga Mironova / Pexels)

A cup of coffee wrapped up in a blanket, sleep & wellness tips

(Image credit: Olga Mironova / Pexels)

If you’re feeling tired and in need of an energy boost, chances are you’re headed over to the kettle to make yourself a cup of tea or coffee. A hit of caffeine is a go-to way to wake up in the morning and to power through the dreaded 3pm energy slump. Another favourite is to have a quick power nap but what if you combined the two?

But what is a caffeine nap and does it actually work? Here’s everything you need to know about caffeine naps, including how and when to do it, and how it affects your body.

P.S. If you find it hard to concentrate or stay awake in the afternoon, check out these7 tips to beat the afternoon energy slumpand if you’re looking to reduce your caffeine intake, here are5 steps to curbing your caffeine addiction.

What is a caffeine nap?

(Image credit: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels)

Woman having a nap at her desk, sleep & wellness tips

(Image credit: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels)

How to have a caffeine nap

So, how do you take a caffeine nap? It’s pretty simple and can easily fit into your schedule. All you need to do is make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, drink it fairly quickly and settle down for a 15-20 minute nap (seehow long should you napfor more details).

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Experts say that you should drink around 200 milligrams of caffeine to feel the effects of the caffeine nap and you shouldn’t sleep longer than 20 minutes to prevent grogginess. Sleep might not come easily to you but having this rest period can still leave you feeling refreshed. If you want to make caffeine naps a regular thing, take a look athow to have the perfect napfor tips to drift off easier.

Now you know how to have a caffeine nap, it’s important to make sure you’re having one at the right time. As we discovered in ourwhat time should you stop drinking coffeeguide, you should have your last cup of coffee between 2-3pm to avoid disrupting your sleep. Similarly, experts suggest that the best time to have a caffeine nap is around midday, typically before 3pm or at least 6 hours before your bedtime.

Are caffeine naps good for you?

While further research needs to be done to fully understand caffeine naps, it has been found that having coffee with a nap is better than having caffeine or a nap on their own. Together, they enhance your concentration, energy levels, memory, and cognitive and physical performance.

Essentially, you get both benefits of caffeine and naps in one go, meaning you should feel less sleep deprived and more alert for the rest of the day. Coffee and naps are also said to have many health benefits, including improving gut, liver, heart and brain health. Of course, you should be careful with how much caffeine you’re consuming but it’s worth giving a caffeine nap a try if you’re struggling to stay awake in the afternoon.

For more nap tricks, why not try tosleep like a Navy SEAL with this 8 minute nap hack.

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