How long is a nap?

[Little Jimmy]

How long is a typical nap? Is there some kind of cut off point?

I think a nap should go no more than three hours. When you get up to the 4-5 hour mark that's no longer a nap, that's bed, you went to fucking bed.

Thoughts?

[El Canuck]

I always heard 20 minutes to an hour to be the low to high end of the average nap. 3 hours is entering into REM sleep and is more than just a nap by that point.

[LondonChick62]

Mine are usually anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

[Greg_McNeish]

I consider 90 minutes to be the upper limit of napping. Once you've crossed that threshold, the stages of sleep start getting deeper, which actually leaves you LESS rested if you interrupt them. This is in keeping with what Nucks said about REM sleep, but the damage is done long before you actually make it there.

For maximum benefit, if you're laying down for more than 90 minutes, then stay down for a full 4 1/2 hours. Anywhere between that is working against you.

[stigsyv1]

I used to survive on 20 min power naps when I was at university

[Greg_McNeish]

Napping is for fuckin' winners.

[TheLyontamer]

Whenever I lie down to sleep, I always find my mind becomes more active and I start mulling over lots of things in my head. As a consequence, it usually takes me an hour or more to actually fall asleep. The only brief sleeps I've ever had have been times when I've drifted off accidentally due to being utterly exhausted, which doesn't happen often. Napping just isn't something that I can feasibly do. I love sleeping, though, and am jealous of people who are able to lay down at will and doze for an hour or so.

[Little Jimmy]

Cool story, bro.

[El Canuck]

and am jealous of people who are able to lay down at will and doze for an hour or so.

Me too, me too.

[Greg_McNeish]

I've long been the same way, taking forever to fall asleep. I recommend white noise, as it has a naturally calming effect on the mind. Makes it much easier for the internal monologue to turn off.

[Little Jimmy]

The only thing that ever keeps me awake is a raging boner.

[El Canuck]

I've long been the same way, taking forever to fall asleep. I recommend white noise, as it has a naturally calming effect on the mind. Makes it much easier for the internal monologue to turn off.

Does tinnitus count as white noise? I would say no, as I require a TV to drown that out to fall asleep as it is.

[Greg_McNeish]

That would be a no. White noise is low frequency. A fan blowing, or an engine idling, or the rain falling. Personally, I use a 12-hour Youtube video of the Enterprise D engine.

[El Canuck]

My tinnitus keeps me awake without background noise. If I don't have TV, I require music on my iPhone, or I lie awake staring at the ceiling while my ears ring endlessly and a thousand thoughts and one run through my head.

[Greg_McNeish]

Right, which is what I'm advocating. I'm just saying that white noise is low-frequency, which your tinnitus I presume is not.

[El Canuck]

It most certainly is not.

[stigsyv1]

I hate when you are falling asleep on sofa then go to bed and can't sleep

[isrs4life]

Mornings before 11am and usually after supper till 7pm.

[eobversion1]

20 mins usually, hour long ones are dangerous territory, makes you cranky as fuck

[stigsyv1]

Have you ever dozed of on a bus and woke up suddenly thinking where the fuck am I.