Key West Aloe Blog Caffeine Nap

Feeling stressed and fatigued by the hectic holiday schedule? Try a caffeine power nap!With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, late night parties, (And, in our case, early wake up calls courtesy of the Key West roosters)it is easy to feel a bit run down this time of year. A simple solution? Coffee + Power Nap= Caffeine Nap. Yes, we know caffeine is no substitute for 8+ hours of sleep. We also know that when living and working in Key West, 8 hours of solid sleep is often not possible, and sometimes we need a quick fix. While there are many variations to the Caffeine Nap, the basics are quite simple.Drink a cup of coffee, and immediately take a 20 minute nap.This phenomenon has picked up steam on internet in the last few years, but the science behind it dates back more than ten years to research from Loughborough University in the UK. Researchers tried several different treatments on sleepy drivers to determine the best method to stay awake, thus cutting down on fatigue-related accidents. It takes about 15 minutes for caffeine to kick in, or at least to begin to keep one awake, so in theory, should make you feel more alert following the power nap. As with regular power naps, the point of a caffeine nap is not to legitimately fall fast asleep; simply dozing with one's eyes closed is enough to clear your brain of adenosine, the chemical that makes us feel cloudy and tired. The coffee adds a one-two punch that should have you up and feeling refreshed.Some tips:A "cup" of coffee is just that. A standard cup. Skip the extra tall $7 white chocolate mocha and save it for when you can actually enjoy it. Even if you don't like regular coffee, trust us. It works the best, and doesn't involve the inevitable sugar crash that comes with fancier beverages. Don't overdo it. Don't nap longer than 15-20 minutes, or you will wake up feeling groggy and defeat the whole point.Throw in a pain reliever. If your fatigue is accompanied by a mind-splitting headache, mix a packet of headache powder like Goody's into the coffee. Yes, it will taste nasty, but again, good taste really isn't the point here. The aspirin will begin to work on the headache while you nap. (Obviously, know the precautions of aspirin and your tolerance to it.)Best Added Boost? If you STILL need an extra boost, keep a stash of Key West Aloe Cucumber Eye Gel cold in the fridge, and apply liberally around your eyes before you nap. Not only will it immediately soothe tired and sore eyes, its high concentration of aloe will draw moisture into your skin, and you will wake up looking refreshed, and not like the undead. Think of it as an emergency wake-up kit. Most of us find ourselves in that situation sooner or later. But seriously, the preventative approach-getting a decent night's rest on a regular basis-should be our first priority. Now if we could only get the roosters to understand...