In many countries in the world, the business district comes to a halt during the blazing hot hours of midday so that everyone can enjoy a siesta, a little nap.
In the United States and the UK however, the thought of stopping the rat race for that half an hour or so during midday is something along the line of criminal.
Everyone is convinced that if they stop for just a second, the rest of the world will catch up and then overtake them.
But, our poor bodies are exhausted so we look for other ways to perk up.
We drink coffee or soda, which are both loaded with caffeine and in the case of the soda drinks, sugar and excess calories that most of us do not need either.
We reach for candy, thinking that the sugary rush will pull us through.
Just like toddlers who have missed their nap time, we become grumpy and irritable.
If we were sensible and reasonable people, we would simply lay down and take a quick nap, a little power nap, but we still fight the concept.
It is time to embrace the nap but, if you can't sleep at night or you have trouble falling asleep when you really need to, there are a few rules to follow for the nap so that it is actually a beneficial power nap and not a power zap.
The world of napping is a very delicate one, like a glistening soap bubble.
The rules are simple, and you must make sure that you try to find the perfect balance.
Here are some do's and don'ts for perfect, power restoring naps that will still allow you to get the right sleep at night as well.
The Do's of Power Napping o All napping must be done before five p.
m.
or it will interfere with the nighttime sleep cycle.
o The nap should be a maximum of thirty minutes, just long enough to rejuvenate, but not so long that you slip into the deeper sleep cycle and wake even groggier than you were.
o For best napping and to prevent sleeplessness at night, consider making the nap area different in some way.
If you can nap in a reclining chair for instance, it sets a different tone.
If not, then use a small throw blanket during your nap time that will send the message to your brain that you are not going to "bed" at this time.
o The ultimate in napping do's: a beautiful, crisp day and a hammock.
Even outside, the timing rule applies.
The Don'ts of Power Napping o Do not allow yourself to sleep for longer than half an hour.
Set a timer or an alarm.
o Do not be shocked, if you cannot actually fall asleep the first few times, it is hard to allow yourself to sleep in the daytime especially if you are a busy adult.
o Do not make a big production of the nap nor should you actually get into your bed, under the covers.
Make sure that your body and brain know that this is a separate concept from actual sleep.
o Do not nap after around three pm, maybe five pm, at the very latest.
If you sleep later than that it will mess with your body's internal clock and make for more trouble falling asleep later.
o Do not try to nap after a huge meal.
Just as eating too late at night may cause trouble for you when you are trying to sleep at night, a nap may not work for you if you have just eaten a huge meal.
A power nap can be a great way to get yourself back on track during the day, and as long as you use it carefully, it will not interfere your nighttime sleeping.
One last word of caution though - if you suffer from insomnia you should not as a rule nap during the day.
It is better to stick to a rigid routine and go to sleep at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning.