A must-see for those who feel sluggish after napping! What is the correct pose for napping?
This may come as a surprise, but don't you feel sleepy after lunch? I think this is a common problem for almost all of humanity. (laughs) Around 1:30 pm, the letters on your computer start to look like they're dancing, or you suddenly notice your neck is shaking during a meeting... I can't count the number of times I've asked myself if there's anything I can do about that peculiar feeling of sleepiness.
A nap can be a lifesaver in times like these. However, if you take a nap in the wrong position, it can just end up being a deep nap. Have you ever woken up feeling exhausted and wondering, "Is this more like a night nap than a day nap?"
So, in this article, we will introduce the correct posture for napping based on the knowledge of HIRUNEGAO, a brand specializing in napping. Please read on and take your time, including some office-related information.
Sleeping on your side is actually a no-no
Days off. Slumbering on the sofa. Diving into bed during a break from telework. This is the ultimate happiness, right? ...But there's a big problem with taking a nap. When you lie down completely, your body goes into "real sleep mode."
The ideal nap is 15 to 20 minutes. Because it's so short, it's very refreshing, but when you lie down, you tend to fall into a deep sleep. As a result, you wake up feeling sluggish and your head feeling heavy. You may be struck by the mysterious phenomenon of "Why am I still tired even though I slept?"
That peculiar feeling of "I've slept too much and now I have a headache..." The cause is your posture.
Correct Nap Posture #1: Sleeping Sitting Up
The best posture to practice is simply sitting: sit in a chair, lean back, and close your eyes.
The sympathetic ganglia in your neck are stimulated just enough to prevent you from falling into a deep sleep, making it easier to feel refreshed in a short amount of time. This is the classic power nap style recommended by NASA research.
But be careful: If you sleep with your head on the desk, you risk numbness in your arms and strange marks on your face. You might find yourself in an afternoon meeting with someone asking, "Is that marking on your face a new fashion?"
Correct Nap Posture #2: Reclining Halfway
If you find that your neck stiffens when you sit, then a reclined position is the best option. Reclining your sofa or chair slightly will help you rest without completely lying down. This will help you feel more relaxed and prevent you from sleeping too much.
However, it's dangerous if "a little angle" suddenly turns into "fully flat." From that point on, it's a direct path to dreamland. You wake up in the evening and find a mountain of unread messages on Slack, like "Mr./Ms. X, can you make the meeting?" You want to avoid that tragedy.
Office Circumstances: Naps
- People who disappear into the conference room During lunch break, a colleague casually disappears into the conference room. They are definitely asleep. They think "no one knows," but everyone knows.
- Desk Neck Jerking Before you know it, your colleague sitting next to you is jerking his neck repeatedly. It's unsettling to watch, but he seems happy.
- The 20-minute planned zombie return turned into an hour before you knew it. The moment he woke up, he groaned "Ugh..." and jumped to his computer like a zombie, which was already quite horrifying.
They're all funny, but they're not funny. The root cause is your posture.
Tips to make your nap more effective
- Alarm essential: Even if you only intend to wake up for 15 minutes, it can be fatal. Make sure to set a timer on your smartphone.
- Using an eye mask: If you are concerned about fluorescent lights or the gaze of others, we recommend using an eye mask. HIRUNEGAO's weighted eye mask has just the right amount of weight to increase your relaxation level. It will also help you concentrate better in your afternoon meetings.
- If you drink a cup of coffee before your caffeine nap, the caffeine will kick in and make you feel refreshed when you wake up. You might be thinking, "Coffee before bed?!" but it's surprisingly effective.
When taking a nap, the key is to have the courage not to lie down
The correct way to take a nap is not to lie down and laze around, but to sit down and refresh for a short time. Whether you sit down or recline halfway, the difference will have a big impact on your performance in the afternoon.
If you just start being a little more conscious of your posture today, you might find that you move with ease in the afternoon like a different person. Sleep in bed at night. Take naps in a chair. If you just follow these steps, you can say goodbye to the days of being controlled by afternoon sleepiness.
