Dave: Feisty, I haven’t been getting a lot of sleep lately, with the new baby and everything; have you seen her Blog ? Anyway, I was wondering if you thought a nap before a late game would be beneficial?
Feisty: The will to play hockey is strong, but the body's ability to follow that will weakens with each hour spent awake. Ultimately, the fatigue from lack of sleep can become so powerful that concentration, motivation and the ability to score goals are seriously impaired.
Dave: But I usually feel way worse after I wake up from a snooze.. Naps just don't work for me.
Feisty: Practically everyone experiences post-nap sleepiness, termed "sleep inertia," immediately upon awakening from a nap. This is why many people think naps aren't helpful. They remember the immediate discomfort they feel right after they wake up rather than the long-term benefits from the extra sleep.
Dave: Isn’t inertia the tendency of an object at rest to remain at rest, and of an object in motion to remain in motion? I don’t want to be groggy when we play the Barbarians!
Feisty: Performance and mood generally are lowest during the first five minutes after awakening, but usually recover after 15 to 30 minutes. The easiest way to avoid sleep inertia and reap the greatest benefits from napping is to allow about an hour between nap-wake-up and game time.
Dave: So How long should I nap for?
Feisty: At least one hour will improve performance and alertness, but there is a direct relationship between nap length and performance -- the longer the nap, the longer the beneficial effects on performance and mood.
Dave: Dude, you have way too much time on your hands. Another beer?
Feisty: Sure!
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