Feeling groggy in the afternoon? Here's how to nap the right way

A traveler takes a nap outside Miami International Airport, July 1, 2022, in Miami. An afternoon nap can be refreshing, but experts say it also can help you at work.

A traveler takes a nap outside Miami International Airport, July 1, 2022, in Miami. An afternoon nap can be refreshing, but experts say it also can help you at work. (Wilfredo Lee, Associated Press)


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WASHINGTON — An afternoon nap can be refreshing, but experts say it also can help you at work or with other activities.

Research shows that so-called power naps lasting less than 30 minutes allow the brain to rest in a way that makes you more alert.

They shouldn't be so long that you slip into a deeper sleep that would leave you groggy after waking up.

James Maas spent 48 years studying sleep as a Cornell University professor. He says you should start with 15 to 30 minutes in a dark, quiet and cool room.

Even if you don't feel like you fell asleep, you'll still get many of the benefits.

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