Disco Nap: What Is It and How To Have A Perfect One?

Published: Sep 21, 2022
Updated: Oct 16, 2024
Disco Nap: What Is It and How To Have A Perfect One?
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    Do you want to avoid evening slumps and instead want to muster the energy to stay active all night? Then why not try a disco nap? A disco nap is nothing less than a life-saving siesta and a legitimate energy booster to catch before heading out for evening activities and late-night meetups.

    However, dozing to a perfect disco nap is the trick to master if you actually want to recharge yourself. 

    So, in this article, we will discuss, blow by blow, the key ingredients to master a perfect quick nap. Let’s dive in!

    What is Disco Nap?

    A disco nap, in short, is having a short snooze during the day before you head out in the evening. When done right, a disco nap could give you a burst of energy to walk out the door and get ready for your evening activities. Or even that evening party that you have been wanting to go to.

    @salliestrawberry Just a little disco nap 🪩 💤 • MERCH OUT NOW// LINK IN BIO • • • #comedy #funny #joke #nap #naplover #disconap #sleep #lovetosleep #fellasleep #relate #relatable #fyp #foryou #funanimation #animation ♬ original sound – Salliethestrawberry

    How to Get a Perfect Disco Nap? 6 Tips and Tricks to Try Out!

    Want to get a perfect disco nap so that you go dancing all night? After a long day of work, you just need something to energize you and keep you awake long enough.

    Here are a few tips and proven tricks that can help you attain one in the right manner.

    1. Aim for a Short Nap

    aim for a short nap

    The first thing to remember and focus on is that it is a short nap, not sleep. So, keep the interval small, between 20 to 30 minutes. In this way, you will wake up before the activation of the slow-wave sleep cycle.

    However, if you sleep longer than that, then your sleep-wave cycle will turn on. As a result, you will feel tired and groggy after waking up. 

    2. Take Some Food Rich in Protein before Sleeping

    high protein food

    Another tip is to eat protein-rich food and avoid sugary foods. Food with high sugar content often delays sleeping or leads to disturbed sleep.

    3. Drink Some Coffee Just before the Nap

    coffee before nap

    Another tip to follow is to take caffeine-rich coffee just before the nap. Actually, caffeine takes nearly 20 to 30 minutes to kick in and shows its effects by regulating hormones. So, in the meantime, you can enjoy quality sleep and wake up with full energy, and caffeine further boosts the effect.

    4. Turn on White Music

    Most people find it difficult to sleep during the day due to disturbance. So, an easy way out is to hear some white music or relaxing sounds. It helps to relax your mind and catch short naps in comparatively lesser time.

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    5. Find an Ideal Place to Sleep

    The environment of the room where you are planning to sleep and get a disco nap matters the most. Try to switch off all the lights, and have an ideal room temperature. However, sleeping on a couch or sofa is better than on a bed because you will get too cozy on a bed.

    find an ideal place to sleep

    6. Fit the nap before 3 p.m.

    Last but not least, try to sleep before 3 p.m. so that it doesn’t interfere with your night’s sleep later on. Generally, a nap in the late afternoon leads to a restless night, followed by a fatigued day.

    A Few Advantages of Disco Naps

    Now that we are up with the right way to have a perfect disco nap, let’s figure out some of the advantages of a short-day siesta on the human body. So, a few important ones are:

    Improved Memory 

    These naps are quite beneficial in improving the cerebellum and cerebrum activity of the brain. As a result, our long-term memory improves. That is why sleeping right after learning something new helps to retain the information for a longer time. Moreover, it boosts the perceptual and analytical thinking of the brain.

    Moreover, another research in 2019 on students claims that people who took a disco or day nap after learning something new had a better memory than those who didn’t.

    Better Cognition and Alertness

    Similarly, it helps to keep us active and alert for a reasonably long time. It lowers the level of the adenosine hormone. Adenosine is known to promote sleep. So by decreasing its level, disco naps improve cognition and perform brain functions with better efficiency. 

    Increases Immunity 

    Disco naps are quite beneficial in improving the overall immunity of the human body. It helps to reduce the levels of hormones like cytokines and epinephrine, thus promoting a boost in overall immunity. Moreover, it decreases the chance of autoimmune diseases and reduces the release of pro-inflammatory hormones and markers.

    disco naps can increase overall immunity

    Elevates Mood

    Last but not least, Disco Naps increase the level of happy hormones in your body. As a result, not only your energy level gets a boost, but it also increases positivity and enhances your mood.

    Conclusion

    A Disco Nap is very helpful in keeping us alert and awake late at night. It works ideally for night shift workers and late-night sleepers who remain up till late at night.

    Disco naps help people to remain up without getting tired or making any compromises on their health. All you need to learn is how to have an ideal nap.

    Now that you are well up with how to have a perfect disco nap, why not get it and recharge yourself for the headings of the night?

    See also:

    Power nap

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    FAQ

    The term "disco nap" originated in the 1970s disco era. It refers to a short nap taken in the late afternoon or early evening to recharge and prepare for a long night out

    A disco nap should typically be between 20 to 30 minutes. This duration is long enough to help refresh and rejuvenate without entering deeper stages of sleep.

    "Disco sleep" is not a commonly used term, but it can be inferred as sleep that is taken in preparation for or recovery from a night of partying or staying out late.

    You can take a disco nap by setting the nap before evening, turning on white music, eating protein before napping. You may refer to the tips shared above in the article as well.
    About authors
    Jessica Brown, a 29-year-old freelance copywriter passionate about human nature and deeply committed to promoting sleep and mental health awareness. Jessica holds a Master of Arts in Literary Studies from the National University of Singapore and a Bachelor's in Biology from the University of Cambridge.

    Goldschmied, Jennifer & Cheng, Philip & Kemp, Kathryn & Caccamo, Lauren & Roberts, Julia & Deldin, Patricia. (2015). Napping to modulate frustration and impulsivity: A pilot study. Personality and Individual Differences. 86. 164-167. 10.1016/j.paid.2015.06.013.

    Mantua J, Spencer RMC. Exploring the nap paradox: are mid-day sleep bouts a friend or foe? Sleep Med. 2017 Sep;37:88-97. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2017.01.019. Epub 2017 Mar 6. PMID: 28899546; PMCID: PMC5598771.

    Sara MednickDan LuskinJose CanteroMercedes AtienzaKen NakayamaRobert Stickgold; Napping necessary for within-day perceptual learning. Journal of Vision 2001;1(3):26. https://doi.org/10.1167/1.3.26.

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