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Caffeine just before a short nap can improve post nap alertness

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Lepton1, Sep 3, 2014.

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  1. Sep 3, 2014 #1
    Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

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    I studied the physiology and psychology of sleep a long time ago in college, and keep up with new developments in the field. It's a bit of a surprise to the research community that a small amount of caffeine just before a "power nap" (short duration nap) can improve how refreshed and alert you are after the nap:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/03/coffee-sleep-power-naps-science_n_5753360.html

    The NYT also linked into this research:

    http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/...ap-avoid-caffeine/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

    The abstract of the original research is here:

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9401427

    Note that for long term sleep caffeine intake needs to be reduced, as caffeine takes about 30 minutes to "kick in". Other research in the past also points to the fact that you can become habituated to caffeine if you consume it daily, requiring larger amounts to get the same effect. Eventually you can actually become more drowsy from extended use of caffeine, requiring you to "reset" by not having caffeine for a few days before resuming use.
     
    Lepton1, Sep 3, 2014
    Lepton1, Sep 3, 2014
    #1
    blairandgretchen and Chinatown Thank this.
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  3. Sep 4, 2014 #2
    blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    Had read this before - interesting.

    I rely on my "eens" . . . Caffeine, nicotine . . .
     
    blairandgretchen, Sep 4, 2014
    blairandgretchen, Sep 4, 2014
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    Chinatown Thanks this.
  4. Sep 4, 2014 #3
    skateboardman

    skateboardman Road Train Member

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    that's a good one, drink coffee and then try to nap.
     
    skateboardman, Sep 4, 2014
    skateboardman, Sep 4, 2014
    #3
  5. Sep 4, 2014 #4
    kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I heard the same thing yesterday on some tv program. They said for a quick power nap to drink a cup of coffee before laying down. It takes 20-30 minutes to have an effect so it will be kicking in when you wake. I've never tried it and for a longer nap it probably wouldn't work. They also said that your powere nap should be 45 min or less. Longer than that you should sleep for a whole 2 hr sleep cycle. Pretty easy to see that these people have never been truck drivers.
     
    kemosabi49, Sep 4, 2014
    kemosabi49, Sep 4, 2014
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    Chinatown Thanks this.
  7. Sep 4, 2014 #5
    cuzzin it

    cuzzin it Road Train Member

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    With all the new technology everything has changed and the sleep from 25 years ago is not the same as todays :biggrin_25522:
     
    cuzzin it, Sep 4, 2014
    cuzzin it, Sep 4, 2014
    #5
  8. Sep 5, 2014 #6
    heyns57

    heyns57 Road Train Member

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    Drink coffee and take a nap over the steering wheel. When your arms go to "sleep", you will wake up and be ready to go. When coffee was served with a cup and saucer, pour some too-hot coffee into the saucer and add an ice cube from the water glass to the cup. Wolf it down. Then pour the saucer into the cup. Wolf it down. You don't have time to waste sitting around.
     
    heyns57, Sep 5, 2014
    heyns57, Sep 5, 2014
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    Chinatown Thanks this.
  9. Sep 5, 2014 #7
    Semi Crazy

    Semi Crazy Road Train Member

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    I hate when sometimes a few sips of coffee makes me drowsy.

    I think it's better after a nap to get your ### out of the seat and walk around or do jumping jacks.
     
    Semi Crazy, Sep 5, 2014
    Semi Crazy, Sep 5, 2014
    #7
  10. Sep 5, 2014 #8
    not4hire

    not4hire Road Train Member

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    Some of the worst advice ever. Used to do it lots myself, but it's a very bad idea.
     
    not4hire, Sep 5, 2014
    not4hire, Sep 5, 2014
    #8
  11. Sep 6, 2014 #9
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    [FONT=Alright Sans, sans-serif]From Vox.com website[/FONT]

    If you're feeling sleepy and want to wake yourself up — and have 20 minutes or so to spare before you need to be fully alert — there's something you should try. It's more effective than drinking a cup of coffee or taking a quick nap.It's drinking a cup of coffee and then taking a quick nap. This is called a coffee nap.

    PEOPLE WHO TOOK A COFFEE NAP COMMITTED FEWER ERRORS IN A DRIVING SIMULATOR

    ​
    It might sound crazy: conventional wisdom is that caffeine interferes with sleep. But if you caffeinate immediately before napping and sleep for 20 minutes or less, you can exploit a quirk in the way both sleep and caffeine affect your brain to maximize alertness.
     
    Chinatown, Sep 6, 2014
    Chinatown, Sep 6, 2014
    #9
    heyns57 and Lepton1 Thank this.
  12. Sep 6, 2014 #10
    Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

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    Thomas Edison had a unique way of napping. He would sit in a wooden chair, holding a spoon. When the spoon hit the floor he would wake up and get back to work. He was famous for working relentlessly with little sleep.
     
    Lepton1, Sep 6, 2014
    Lepton1, Sep 6, 2014
    #10
    heyns57 Thanks this.
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