#32 - Take a nap

Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy, Salvador Dali have one thing in common - they are all famous nappers in history.

Quick nap offers a lot of benefits:

• Enhance performance: reaction time, alertness, psychomotor speed;

• Improve mood: more relaxed equals bigger smile on your face;

• Boosted ability to learn;

• Good for heart health.

After studying Chinese Body Clock you already know the best time, and actually, the only right one for a snooze is between 12:00 - 12:20/30 (if you follow its guidance). The key to napping is to keep it short 10 to 20, or max of 30 minutes at a time. So you won't go too far into the sleep cycle, as it could leave you more tired than before, or if it would be too late, it would leave you with sleeping problems. It's good to notice that kids and also very old people might have different sleep needs. Information in this chapter is addressed generally for adults.

We will learn to incorporate and pay attention to relaxing even more.

Time to take a nap :)

Feeling tired during the day? It’s not normal! As we start the day with the charged phone we should start the day full of optimism and a burst of energy. There is a big problem nowadays with being always tired.

Most of the reasons are:

• Eating too many refined carbs,

• Not enough or too much movement,

• Not enough high-quality sleep with a consistent sleep routine,

• Food sensitiveness (intolerances) like gluten,

• Not eating enough calories,

• Shallow breathing,

• Not getting enough protein,

• Inadequate hydration,

• High-stress levels,

• Vitamins, and minerals deficiency and as well excess,

• Physical diseases, mental problems (they can be undiagnosed),

• Intercourse or masturbation at the wrong time of the day,

• Being over or underweight,

• The monotony of your job and etc.

Do more things that you enjoy, especially those which will add your energy. Build up strong healthy habits and change your lifestyle.

Few words about a coffee addiction.

I notice a wide coffee addiction. It’s all over and somebody wants us to think it is normal to have an energy drink, or strong coffee to be more motivated to work. It’s completely not normal, to torture your kidneys and pancreas. Don’t get fulled by these sugar-free drinks, they aren't any better. A cup of strong tea, energy drink, or coffee is not the solution.

The solution is to improve your lifestyle. Try a cold shower in the morning, it works much better than coffee. Don’t get me wrong, caffeine is not bad - when you use it from time to time.

If you want to stop the regular consumption of coffee, do it little by little (remember kaizen?). To avoid caffeine withdrawal. Start from dinking smaller, or weaker doses. Then if you drink a couple of times per day, try to drink less.

I personally like to take a nap, from time to time. I was snoozing on breaks when I worked permanently in different places. The easiest way is to find some corner, maybe wear a sleep mask, set up a timer. For some of my coworkers it seemed weird, but should I care about others people's opinions? I felt full of energy, that what matters!

Longer lunch breaks, as well as ''coffee'' breaks, are not the time to lean on the phone or talk extensively with others - but you already know it ;) This is time to relax, rest, and maybe take a nap, and later on, do some simple stretches.

If you work at home, take breaks as well. You might think you will do much more without it, but in a long run, it won't work. For optimal performance, our minds and body need regular rest. It’s so good for us to simply do nothing. After a snooze, you can go for Energy and Consciousness Awakening Breath to wake you up.

You already know that 12:00 (especially after a meal), it's the perfect time to have 20 minutes of snooze. Build up awareness of your body each day, and create a healthier lifestyle.

Have a deep and regenerative rest!