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I found this by experience few years ago. It works. At first, I started with naps, and drinking coffee after. Accidentally I had few times coffee before nap,

by 300 12y ago

I found this by experience few years ago. It works. At first, I started with naps, and drinking coffee after. Accidentally I had few times coffee before nap, and noticed the difference. But I don't recommend this kind of nap all the time - because after a while it's not that effective. So, after years of napping (I'm an expert - I became so good at napping, that I can fall a sleep in 1-2 minutes, and wake up without alarm after 15-20 minutes), my advice would be: take a nap after lunch, between 1 and 3pm, without coffee before nap. Only in special situations, when you are under high pressure and lots of work, take "coffee nap" as they call it in the article.

jisaacks 12y ago
> I can fall a sleep in 1-2 minutes, and wake up without alarm after 15-20 minutes Any advice on how you were able to achieve this ability? I always try to take a quick nap but can never fall asleep fas t enough for it to be effective.
- cheapsteak 12y ago
  Earplugs + couch at a quiet place (e.g. library). If it's too loud for even earplugs, Emancipator's "Soon It Will Be Cold Enough" album works for when I'm on a bus/subway
- phpnode 12y ago
  it takes practise. Likely you try and take a nap a few times, it takes too long and so the next day you don't bother. But if you can get through that it gets easier over time. Your body learns that it's "time to go to sleep". The other strategy is physical and mental exhaustion, for this I recommend starting a business and/or becoming a parent.
  - ejain 12y ago
    > The other strategy is physical and mental exhaustion Sleep deprivation may make it easy to fall asleep fast, but then you won't wake up without alarm after 15-20 minutes.
- crb3 12y ago
  Two techniques from my experience: - 'walk back' in your mind to center yourself away from forebrain activity and visual activity (this is a visualization technique) - cover your back with something insulated and/or warm. The less your back is staying tensed against chill air, the more physically relaxed you can be. I have a Thinsulate-filled sleeping bag that I use like a throw for this as it reflects body heat better than a comforter. Sleeping on a sofa, up against the back cushions, and noticing how it was good for naps, was what alerted me to this one.
  - twobits 12y ago
    Could you please expand on the "walk back" thing? Also, any links, books? Thanks.
    - crb3 12y ago
      Like I said, it's a visualization technique, and it works better if you have some experience with pushing your mental energies around. Practice in Wiccan grounding, centering and shielding helps (Google that or start with http://www.witchvox.com http://www.witchvox.com and start probing, I guess; I don't know of any instruction materials currently in print or online). This is my experience, so I describe it here in first-person... When I close my eyes, almost immediately my visual memory lights up with a "day review" which is like a daydream but for being something which I can direct, using pretty much the same visualization mechanism I use for data/code/schematic structures when I'm designing, coding or debugging. I can feel that forebrain activity as a slight heat just behind my forehead. It's great for overview and casual entertainment when I can afford the time, but not when I need a quick nap and it's keeping me conscious. I will the main weight of my awareness to recede from that frontal visualization viewplane, moving toward the back of my skull, deliberately dissociating from the visual activity, to where things feel like they're quieter and move slower. If, for motorcycling, where a less tightly-focused, more panoramic viewpoint is best for situational awareness, I take a half-step back, for quick napping I take several steps back. You can forcefully imagine the footsteps if it helps establish the change of center; after awhile, that mental positioning becomes familiar enough to dispense with the imagined physical/aural sound-effects. Sorry if it sounds all too Crafty or New-Age, but that's how I live.
- mrpoptart 12y ago
  Breathe in a count of 2 and out a count of 1. Sleep with your mouth open, but breathe only through your nose. Remember that quiet resting with eyes shut is 80% as good as sleeping when it comes to naps.
- maroonblazer 12y ago
  When I started meditating I found it much easier to fall asleep quickly. The 'opening game' of most, if not all, mindfulness meditation is simply relaxing your body and preparing for the meditation. Turns out this is something you can get better at with practice; at least I did. Pick up the Headspace app. You get several meditations for free and those should be enough to arm you with what you need to learn "speed relaxing". https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app
- practicalpants 12y ago
  I can at least say when I am habitually sleep deprived I find it easy to fall asleep on a whims notice. If I get a proper 8-9 hours of sleep, I find it impossible to nap. Maybe the insta-napping is only possible due to a more fundamental lack of sleep issue?
bwanab 12y ago
I don't sleep well at night. I never have. But, after lunch (and after perusing HN for a few minutes), I start feeling that dull sensation like my brain is trying to shut down. If, at that point, I get into a reasonably comfortable position (doesn't have to be lying down, just rest your head on a table or lean back in a chair with head supported), close my eyes and allow my thoughts to wander. In 5 to 15 minutes the world looks like a much better place. I really think the key is closing your eyes. I've read (no citation available) that the vision system requires a huge amount of brain activity and that by shutting your eyes you can achieve a large sleep like win even if you don't sleep.

by 300 12y ago

jisaacks 12y ago

> I can fall a sleep in 1-2 minutes, and wake up without alarm after 15-20 minutes Any advice on how you were able to achieve this ability? I always try to take a quick nap but can never fall asleep fas t enough for it to be effective.

cheapsteak 12y ago
Earplugs + couch at a quiet place (e.g. library). If it's too loud for even earplugs, Emancipator's "Soon It Will Be Cold Enough" album works for when I'm on a bus/subway
phpnode 12y ago
it takes practise. Likely you try and take a nap a few times, it takes too long and so the next day you don't bother. But if you can get through that it gets easier over time. Your body learns that it's "time to go to sleep". The other strategy is physical and mental exhaustion, for this I recommend starting a business and/or becoming a parent.
- ejain 12y ago
  > The other strategy is physical and mental exhaustion Sleep deprivation may make it easy to fall asleep fast, but then you won't wake up without alarm after 15-20 minutes.
crb3 12y ago
Two techniques from my experience: - 'walk back' in your mind to center yourself away from forebrain activity and visual activity (this is a visualization technique) - cover your back with something insulated and/or warm. The less your back is staying tensed against chill air, the more physically relaxed you can be. I have a Thinsulate-filled sleeping bag that I use like a throw for this as it reflects body heat better than a comforter. Sleeping on a sofa, up against the back cushions, and noticing how it was good for naps, was what alerted me to this one.
- twobits 12y ago
  Could you please expand on the "walk back" thing? Also, any links, books? Thanks.
  - crb3 12y ago
    Like I said, it's a visualization technique, and it works better if you have some experience with pushing your mental energies around. Practice in Wiccan grounding, centering and shielding helps (Google that or start with http://www.witchvox.com http://www.witchvox.com and start probing, I guess; I don't know of any instruction materials currently in print or online). This is my experience, so I describe it here in first-person... When I close my eyes, almost immediately my visual memory lights up with a "day review" which is like a daydream but for being something which I can direct, using pretty much the same visualization mechanism I use for data/code/schematic structures when I'm designing, coding or debugging. I can feel that forebrain activity as a slight heat just behind my forehead. It's great for overview and casual entertainment when I can afford the time, but not when I need a quick nap and it's keeping me conscious. I will the main weight of my awareness to recede from that frontal visualization viewplane, moving toward the back of my skull, deliberately dissociating from the visual activity, to where things feel like they're quieter and move slower. If, for motorcycling, where a less tightly-focused, more panoramic viewpoint is best for situational awareness, I take a half-step back, for quick napping I take several steps back. You can forcefully imagine the footsteps if it helps establish the change of center; after awhile, that mental positioning becomes familiar enough to dispense with the imagined physical/aural sound-effects. Sorry if it sounds all too Crafty or New-Age, but that's how I live.
mrpoptart 12y ago
Breathe in a count of 2 and out a count of 1. Sleep with your mouth open, but breathe only through your nose. Remember that quiet resting with eyes shut is 80% as good as sleeping when it comes to naps.
maroonblazer 12y ago
When I started meditating I found it much easier to fall asleep quickly. The 'opening game' of most, if not all, mindfulness meditation is simply relaxing your body and preparing for the meditation. Turns out this is something you can get better at with practice; at least I did. Pick up the Headspace app. You get several meditations for free and those should be enough to arm you with what you need to learn "speed relaxing". https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app
practicalpants 12y ago
I can at least say when I am habitually sleep deprived I find it easy to fall asleep on a whims notice. If I get a proper 8-9 hours of sleep, I find it impossible to nap. Maybe the insta-napping is only possible due to a more fundamental lack of sleep issue?

bwanab 12y ago

I don't sleep well at night. I never have. But, after lunch (and after perusing HN for a few minutes), I start feeling that dull sensation like my brain is trying to shut down. If, at that point, I get into a reasonably comfortable position (doesn't have to be lying down, just rest your head on a table or lean back in a chair with head supported), close my eyes and allow my thoughts to wander. In 5 to 15 minutes the world looks like a much better place. I really think the key is closing your eyes. I've read (no citation available) that the vision system requires a huge amount of brain activity and that by shutting your eyes you can achieve a large sleep like win even if you don't sleep.