Ever Heard Of A 'Coffee Nap'? It Could Make You Even More Productive And Energized

In some people, it can enhance wakefulness. In others, it may not be such a great idea.

Alex Frankel started taking coffee naps when he was in college.

“I used to drink so much coffee all day, but it never really helped me feel less tired. If anything, I just felt more jittery and stressed,” he said.

Then, a classmate who grew up in Europe told him that if he drank a cup of coffee and napped for 20 minutes, he would wake up feeling refreshed, just as the caffeine hit his system. Napping while waiting for the caffeine to take effect “allows for a double boost, a double whammy of energy,” Frankel said.

Frankel is no longer in college but still has long days juggling multiple responsibilities as a model, music teacher and the founder of Hot Fat Guy Club, an organization dedicated to empowering “fat, big & tall, cis, trans, and non-binary men, and the people that love them” and encouraging “joy and self-acceptance,” according to the organization’s website.

Several times a week he makes a double shot of espresso on ice, drinks it in two sips, and then falls asleep for 20 minutes. He usually takes a coffee nap in the middle of the day before transitioning from one task to another. Frankel is not alone in singing the praises of coffee naps — but do they work?