Why That Long Afternoon Nap Might Be A Mistake

Anybody else out there guilty of napping for WAY too long? I'll ruin an entire night of sleep by taking an afternoon snooze that would be considered more of a "sleep" and less of a "nap." Let's dig into some tips on how to get the most out of your afternoon siesta.

How Long Should You Nap?

Studies show that a 20 or 30-minute nap is all you need to boost alertness and ward off a groggy aftermath. It doesn't sound like very long, but, unless you are trying to catch up on some major sleep deprivation, a short nap is the way to go if you want the rest of your day to be productive.

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Easy to Say, Hard to Do

I often tell myself I'll get up after a short power nap, but end up staying in bed when the alarm goes off. When I finally do wake up, I feel groggy and totally out of it, a feeling also known as sleep inertia. You may think catching a few extra hours in the middle of the day will help you out after having a fussy baby that night before, but watch out! Too much of a good thing will leave you feeling just a cranky as your newborn.

Try Shorter Naps Next Time

It's going to be a little tough, but trust me. Practice self-control when it comes to nap time. Eventually, you'll understand just how much better a 30-minute nap is than one that lasts 4 hours. It's science!

Learn more about how to get the most out of naptime here.

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