How to nap

I retired, mostly, but still have not settled into a routine; there are already not enough hours, and I seem to run out of steam at the end of the day. I tried brief rests or doing paperwork at midday, but that did not keep me rolling. I tried napping, but that always has left me groggy for the rest of the afternoon. I recently heard a radio interview: someone had opened a Japanese- style “nap parlor” in New York City. For a few bucks, one could use an environmentally- controlled cubicle for a mid- day nap. What really caught my attention was that they served coffee or tea prior to your nap, so you could wake up alert. My light- bulbs flashed; they had it figured out! A good dose of caffeine would take about 20 minutes to kick in its stimulant effects and you could come out of your nap perked up, in addition to being rested. I had to try it and it worked like a charm, especially when I got up early and played hard all morning. This marvelous discovery has been easy to implement on days when I can control the schedule (appointments, commitments, and work often interfere). I usually have coffee with my lunch, so I just set my cell phone timer for 20 minutes (30 minutes if I need to wind down with some radio or reading). This scheme is very portable… works great in bunk, tent, or hammock. When the alarm calls me, I have consumed 20 minutes, and I am immediately ready to slip into my shoes and go some more… no lag- time lost to making coffee, dragging around, trying to come back to my senses.