Powernap! Ever tried it?
By choybel
@choybel (5042)
Philippines
October 28, 2012 3:13pm CST
My friend once mentioned this to me. It's about taking a few minutes of deep sleep, actually he mentioned some terms related to sleep and levels of it that I just don't remember now, and the result is having replenish energy enough to last for hours. I wanted to do more research on this, specially now that I seem to be experiencing it lately. In fact, just a few hours ago I was really exhausted and was pretty sure I'd be sleeping like a child until now so I dozed off to a deep sleep which was not my usual sleeping time and, unfortunately I woke up a few minutes after that feeling all energized and wide awake. I couldn't go back to sleep even if I wanted to or forced myself to so I thought of doing some house cleaning, with the hope of tiring myself to sleep, but here I am up and still not ready to go to bed. Anyway, I think it also has something to do with my sleep pattern and my insomnia so maybe it really isn't about that short nap at all. Still, I'd like to think it's possible.
So, did any of you ever experience this or still practice this? I also heard from some friends that it's true for them and that they also do that. Any helpful insight on this fellow mylotters?
2 people like this
8 responses
@deazil (4730)
• United States
28 Oct 12
I've known quite a few people throughout the years that have said they take a short - 15 to 30 min. - nap and they're good to go for the rest of the day. I can't imagine myself waking up in that short of a time and actually being able to get up. I would fall right back to sleep. I have had many bouts of insomnia and that's the only time I ever woke up before getting 8hrs, at least, of sleep. Aside from regular insomnia - not being able to get to sleep in the first place - there was a time when I would wake up after 2-4 hours of sleeping and not be able to go back to sleep. But I didn't feel rested. I felt exhausted. At the time I still had 4-5 more hours before I had to go to work. It was terrible. But, yes, I believe a short nap works for a lot of people. Some of your responses have attested to that.
@choybel (5042)
• Philippines
4 Nov 12
Truly, you have described something I, too have experienced several times in my life. The way I feel exhausted when I do not get enough sleep, waking up after just a few hours of sleep and not being able to go back to it again, etc. To me, a restful sleep is a luxury, power naps on the other hand is something I would take whenever possible.
@STOUTjodee (3573)
• United States
28 Oct 12
Oh yes, I've taken a 10-15 minute powernap on several different occassions and for me it really does work! I don't know if it's proven or not, but it definitely works for me!
I don't know if it's proven or not, but it definitely works for me!@choybel (5042)
• Philippines
4 Nov 12
Interesting that you brought this up. I guess I can say that I can never truly tell yet whether I believe in hypnosis or not. To be honest, I doubt that it would really work on me, but I have heard, seen, and read about it many times and seems to really exist and happen for real so I guess it now just becomes a matter of belief, like faith.
@STOUTjodee (3573)
• United States
4 Nov 12
Well, and I think to that we convince ourselves that this works, so inevitably it does work. Like some people don't believe in hypnosis, however, once they put their guard down they can be hypnotized.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
29 Oct 12
I have never been able to do this, because when I woke up again I always found that I felt more tired than I did before I went to sleep. I have to have a full eight hours of sleep if I am bothering to go to sleep at all, so if I would not be able to do this then I wouldn't even bother to do so. I know of a lot of people who do this, and just have small amounts of sleep several times each day rather than one long sleep, and it is good that this works well for them, but it just isn't something that would ever work for me personally.
@lologirl2021 (5542)
• United States
29 Oct 12
Alot of people take powernaps but i have tried it but havent had any success with it at all. There are times i just want to take a nap but then peole call me in the house or ask for me and im like gosh im trying to take a nap but it just doesnt work like that at all. I would like to take powernaps sometimes at work because im usually tired then from being with family and what not during the weekend but its life i guess you can say and we get things done but its life i guess you gotta say.
@choybel (5042)
• Philippines
4 Nov 12
I guess it's called power nap for a reason, and the reason that it being a very short nap but able to provide power or enough energy to last hours of waking time or work. Still, I believe it depends from person to person. Like you said, it might not unfortunately work for you, but it seems to have worked with some though. It's a shame that you couldn't experience this for yourself as it can really be helpful in many occasions, but I still hope you can, though. Maybe you should try it out more sometime.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
29 Oct 12
I don't really like taking any naps unless I am ill. That is really the thing, where it is hard for me to get any sleep past my designated sleep time during the night. Plus, I know if I get too relaxed, I'll get my entire sleep schedule thrown off and it is just downhill for there.
There were a few times where I experimented with a power nap in the past, but I shelved the experiment. It's just something that causes my mind to get thrown off my guard. So yeah the short nap might really seem like a good idea, but even a short nap is really just something that throws off my sleep patterns. So I don't try and do this any more.
@choybel (5042)
• Philippines
4 Nov 12
Very interesting perspective you have just brought up here. I now wonder whether this naps could also be one reason why some of my sleeping schedule gets ruined. I actually have irregular sleeping times now, which I give credit to my insomnia, but I think that you have made me aware of a new fact I would like to consider. Thanks for this.
@Gretchen522 (715)
• China
29 Oct 12
I had heard of that but I never try, because when I begin to sleep I really can't to control myself.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
28 Oct 12
Sometimes I will lay down before going to work. A quick few minutes to give myself some energy before going to work, it's effective for me. It depends though, sometimes it's only ten minutes and sometimes it's longer.
I think those who suffer from insomnia have a harder time of it though but I wouldn't know what to suggest.
@choybel (5042)
• Philippines
4 Nov 12
I normally would take short rests in between long hours of work or even before starting, but sometimes having to think of all the work ahead makes me really lazy and resting before actually doing it is not a good idea for me as I tend to be lazier that way.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
28 Oct 12
I do this once or twice a day. As I work 12-14 hrs a day in my cafe. I need a rest now and then. I only close my eyes for 5-10 mints. sure helps me get through the day here.
