A coffee and catnap keep you sharp on the nightshift, study suggests:
Lead researcher, Dr Stephanie Centofanti from UniSA Online and the Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory at UniSA says the finding could help counteract the kind of sleep inertia that is experienced by many shiftworkers.
[...] "A 'caffeine-nap' (or 'caff-nap') could be a viable alternative -- by drinking a coffee before taking a nap, shiftworkers can gain the benefits of a 20-30-minute nap then the perk of the caffeine when they wake. It's a win-win."
The small pilot study tested the impact of 200 mg of caffeine (equivalent to 1-2 regular cups of coffee) consumed by participants just before a 3.30am 30-minute nap, comparing results with a group that took a placebo.
Participants taking a 'caffeine-nap' showed marked improvements in both performance and alertness, indicating the potential of a 'caffeine-nap' to counteract sleep grogginess.
Journal Reference:
Stephanie Centofanti, Siobhan Banks, et al.A pilot study investigating the impact of a caffeine-nap on alertness during a simulated night shift, Chronobiology International (DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2020.1804922)
(Score: 2) by legont on Monday August 31 2020, @12:30PM
We were doing it way back in 80s while on sysadmin shifts. I'd get a two days off if I pull all nighter sysadmin on IBM-360 after a regular software dev day. A large cap of strong coffe and a nap early night. One wakes up fresh half an hour later.
A friend of mine ended up doing this as his regular routine during normal hours as well. He would sleep for 20 last minutes of lunch break right after his coffee.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.