Science says drinking coffee before your nap sharpens your mind. Here’s how to try it. Credit: Canva
Most of us rely on coffee in order to wake up after we nap. But science suggests otherwise. In a clever sleep study published in the Journal of Psychophysiology, researchers found that having a coffee before a short nap can actually provide benefits. One of them is improved alertness, called the “coffee nap,” and it works.
What the Research Found
In the experiment, participants who drank coffee right before napping and slept for 15-20 minutes performed significantly better on cognitive tests than those who had coffee alone or napped. They were sharper, quicker, and made a few mistakes. The trick lies in how the caffeine interacts with a chemical in the brain called adenosine, which builds up during the day and invokes a sleepy feeling. So when caffeine is introduced into the system, it blocks adenosine, and that takes around 20 minutes to kick in– exactly around the time you would be waking up from a power nap.
This means the nap clears a relatively good amount of adenosine naturally—- just in time for caffeine to block what is left. The result? Your mind is more focused, clearer, and less foggy.
How to Try it Today?
This can be done in three simple steps: The first step is to down a small cup of coffee (a double espresso or 200ml will do). Step 2: Lie down for about a 15-20-minute nap directly (better safe than sorry). Step 3: Wake up just as the caffeine begins to take effect and enjoy that energy boost (Put an alarm).
Bonus tip: Do not sleep longer than 20 minutes, or you risk falling into a deeper sleep and awake groggy. It sounds strange, but with brilliant timing, this will make you want to take that afternoon name with the hack provided, with one coffee and one nap. Now, that is a more innovative way to rest.
