Sometimes a nap during the afternoon is the only way to power through the day. While napping can absolutely affect your sleep
at night, if you do it the right way, you get the best of both worlds — great daytime naps and still sleep soundly at night. With a few napping tips and tricks up your sleeve, you can avoid that oh-so-dreadful delay in your nighttime routine.
Tips: How to take a nap without ruining your sleep
Cue a collective sigh of relief: You can rejoice in the fact that it is possible to enjoy an afternoon snooze and not feel like you ruined your sleep cycle for the next five days.
While some people — as noted above — should generally avoid naps, with the right strategy, most people can savor an afternoon nap and still get quality shut-eye when the world goes dark. Here are seven do’s and don’ts to keep in mind before your next nap.
1. Aim to nap in the early afternoon
The earlier you can nap (once you start to feel drowsy), the better. Just like long naps, late naps can interfere with your sleep cycle and keep you up at night. Though everyone’s circadian rhythm is unique, most people experience a dip in alertness around 1 to 3 p.m. If you can make it to a restful area within this timeframe, that’s your best bet for a good nap that doesn’t mess with nighttime sleep.
