Let’s start with a disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Almost the opposite, in fact. I am a writer, which means I do horrible, inadvisable things to my body in the name of science. Bearing that in mind, please approach the following advice on sleep carefully, because each person’s body is different.
Everybody needs sleep, but controlling when and how often you get it can leave you more time to get things done. Here are a few tricks that have helped me through exams, work deadlines, and other times when every little bit of shuteye counts.
A Caffeine Nap Works in a Pinch
Instead of waiting until you wake up to recharge with a caffeine boost, drink some coffee or Red Bull just before you take a 15 minute nap. The short burst of sleep will perk you up, and the caffeine will kick in right as you’re waking up. Be sure to set an alarm so you don’t oversleep and miss the benefits of the caffeine entirely.
Plan to Moderate Your Caffeine Usage
A little bit of caffeine can make you feel sharper and more alert, but once you get hooked, it might take 8 cups of coffee a day just to function normally. If you have a stressful week ahead, taper off your intake before it arrives. When you feel tired, just let yourself sleep. After a week or two of detox from caffeine, starting it again feels like turning on the afterburner. For a detailed explanation of how this works, Arvind Naranayan’s blog is an excellent read.
Oh, and if you find caffeine too harsh, try an apple for a smaller boost of energy that won’t make you crash later.
Find a Nap Cycle That Fits Your Schedule
Not everybody is a nap person, but the right combination of naps can leave you more rested in less time than sleeping all night. Dustin Curtis’ How To Hack Your Brain explains how to reduce your total sleep time by napping efficiently. It’s called polyphasic sleep, and it could mean anywhere from one nap per day to a slightly scary six daily naps. Pick a schedule that works for you, and give it a try.
Sleep with a Spoon for the Perfect Nap
It sounds crazy, but you can time the perfect nap with a spoon. Hold the spoon loosely off the edge of your bed or chair as you fall asleep. It should fall to the ground and wake you up just as you start to sleep deeply. You might want to put a plate down, so your spoon will have a noisy place to land. Legend has it that Salvador Dali used this trick, although I’ve heard he did it with marbles.
Don’t go overboard with sleep-limiting experiments and burn yourself out. If you don’t listen to your body when you’re tired, you can lose more work time than you gain by staying up all night. Plan ahead for deadlines and make sure to sleep and stock up on caffeinated beverages before crunch time.
Jay is a freelance writer based in Seattle, WA. He blogs about software for Download Squad, and contributes interviews to Geek Monthly magazine, among others. You can also find him on Twitter.
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