In recent weeks, i’ve felt “overstretched” I haven’t been overtraining… Likely just the weather on the east coast has been AWFUL and getting everybody down (don’t worry, the past few days have been awesome). However, one strategy i’ve taken up is having a about a 20 minute “siesta” at lunch. Anybody, have any recomendations, references on how long to take naps for, the benefits, etc.?
So far, it really seems to be working… But that could be the placebo effect / weather getting much, much, better I read in the paper that in May, we had something like 24 days of rain.
i read something years ago about performance and “naps”. it was something about 20 minutes of power napping improved performance in the workplace and for students. this is all i remember about it, that it was good to do and improved mental capabilities.
Yeah, i’ve heard that there’s an “optimum” time… something like 20 minutes like you said. I thought the reasoning is something like you fall into a deeper sleep after that and become sluggish… I could be off though.
There was an article in a recent Outside magazine about an Italian (I think) doctor who worked extensively with ultra-distance solo sailors who participate in races the the “Around Alone” solo circumnavigation race.
Basically, they did find some basis for short interval sleep. I don’t remember the details.
In the military we had to grab sleep whenever possible for days on end; in vehicles, in an aircraft, even while standing in formation. I once slept at a range while ordinance was exploding about 1000 meters away. When I woke up my buddy Harold said, “Dude, you just slept through a barrage…”
I find that if I schedule them and adhere to the schedule it seems to compound the benefits also. Caution signs are needed to warn people off and not wake me mid nap!!! Really bad news.
I read in the paper that in May, we had something like 24 days of rain.