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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Turbonap To Recharge Productivity

Marla Paul Chicago Tribune

It’s 3 p.m. and you’re beginning to feel sluggish.

Should you chug some strong coffee, snarf down a bag of M&Ms or take a nap?

The correct answer is zzzzzzzzzz.

Oh. Sorry. The correct answer is take a snooze.

Our bodies need a midday break. We are not made to zoom through the day at warp speed, reports Natural Health magazine.

Everyone experiences a natural drop in energy in the middle of the afternoon. And taking time to drift off has many benefits.

It boosts energy, productivity and creativity and can supply a mood boost, experts say.

“A well-rested person works faster and performs better,” Dr. Neil B. Kavey, director of Columbia University’s Sleep Center, tells the magazine.

Here are Natural Health’s techniques for turbonapping.

If you have your own office, get horizontal, lower the lights and pull a pillow out of your bottom desk drawer. No office? Some nappers use benches, couches in bathrooms or just put their heads down on their desks.

Nap when you feel your alertness wane, usually about eight hours after you wake up in the morning. Shoot for the same time each day.

To fall asleep, try a relaxing exercise such as tensing and releasing your muscles from top to bottom or imagining the sun is warming every part of your body.

For most people the ideal nap time is 15 to 30 minutes, but some need only five minutes and others an hour. Experiment until you find the perfect amount of time for you.