Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Coffee Naps: The Ultimate Power Nap?

Coffee Naps: The Ultimate Power Nap?

When exhausted, there are two viable options to recharge: a nap or a cup of coffee. And never the twain shall meet, right? The combination seems counterintuitive, but it may change life as you know it. According to Vox, “If you caffeinate immediately before napping and sleep for 20 minutes or less, you can exploit a quirk in the way both sleep and caffeine affect your brain to maximize alertness.” The coffee nap is percolating across the nation, with some offices even encouraging such power naps, discovering a new way to stave off the 2PM slump.

The Science Behind the Sleep


So how exactly do coffee naps work? Caffeine and adenosine, a drowsiness-inducing chemical compound, compete for receptors in the brain. Adenosine builds up in the brain when awake and disperses when asleep. Resting for 20 minutes allows the brain to clear away the adenosine to make room for the caffeine as it recharges your brain. "If you can fall asleep in your nap before caffeine does that, when it’s time to wake up, you’re getting the benefits of the caffeine perfectly timed with the nap sleep benefit," said sleep researcher Dr. David Dinges in an interview with The Huffington Post.

Scientists have observed the positive effects of the coffee nap, and experiments show that the caffeine/sleep combo works wonders for “maximizing alertness.” This NCBI study suggests that a 15 minute coffee nap counteracts the effects of sleepiness and impairments while driving. And this Japanese study found that those who took a caffeine nap before a

series of memory tests "performed significantly better on them compared to people who solely took a nap, or took a nap then washed their faces or had a bright light shone in their eyes.”

Power Nap Principles

Greg Hirson

Ready to put the coffee nap to the test? Select your caffeinated beverage of choice, but remember soda and tea have less of a jolt than java. Here’s a handy caffeine chart for those who aren’t too keen on coffee. It’s important to consume the caffeinated beverage quickly so it will not counteract your rest. Vox.com suggests drinking iced coffee or espresso if you’re unable to drink a hot cup quickly.

Next, find a place to rest for up to twenty minutes as the caffeine enters the bloodstream. Sleepjunkies.com summed it up perfectly:  “Don’t delay, take the nap right away.” Even if you’re unable to fully fall asleep, a rest period will still suffice.

Remember not to rest longer than twenty minutes to avoid falling into a deeper sleep state. The caffeine will begin begin to stimulate your brain as you begin to take on the rest of the day.

With that, brew some coffee, close the blinds and unlock the secrets of the caffeine coma. Your brain will thank you.

More from News

Woman wearing fur coat
Gerardo Marrufo/Unsplash

People Break Down What Screams 'I'm Just Pretending To Be Rich'

Some wealthy people like to flaunt their status by wearing upscale clothing and accessories or driving fancy cars.

Others like to be incognito, reflecting their preference for a non-extravagant lifestyle despite being affluent.

Keep ReadingShow less
A person standing on a scale
person standing on white digital bathroom scale
Photo by i yunmai on Unsplash

People Divulge The One Thing That Actually Helped Them Lose Weight

When people feel the need to lose a few pounds, they will often look up various popular techniques or practices to do so.

Up to and including extreme changes in their diets or rigorously changing their exercise routine.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Scott Jennings and Leigh McGowan
CNN

Republican CNN Pundit Gets Instantly Shut Down After He Tried To Distance Trump From Project 2025

Social media influencer Leigh McGown, aka PoliticsGirl, shut down Republican CNN pundit Scott Jennings after he tried to distance former President Donald Trump from Project 2025 and suggested that Vice President Kamala Harris is wrong to draw attention to Trump's involvement.

Project 2025 is a set of conservative and right-wing policy proposals from the Heritage Foundation aimed at restructuring the United States federal government and consolidating executive power if the Republican nominee wins the 2024 presidential election.

Keep ReadingShow less
Empire State Building; Gateway Arch
Gary Hershorn/Getty Images, Nic Antaya/Getty Images

The Empire State Building Just Started The Most Petty Beef With The Gateway Arch—And People Kind Of Love It

The New York Empire State Building just found another U.S. monument to antagonize after feuding with the Chicago Bean early this summer.

This time, the art deco skyscraper started beefing with the St. Louis Gateway Arch after it announced it was celebrating its 59th anniversary.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Jeanine Pirro and Jessica Tarlov
Fox News

Fox Host Instantly Roasted After Saying People Should 'Be Calm And Accept' A Trump Win

Fox News host Jessica Tarlov shut down her colleague Jeanine Pirro after Pirro said people should "be calm and accept" the election results in the event former President Donald Trump wins his White House bid.

Addressing Trump's recent rally at Madison Square Garden, Pirro said it excited her and "gave me a lot of hope" in seeing such support for Trump at a venue that large.

Keep ReadingShow less