Dr Sarah McKay, Director of the Neuroscience Academy

“I resisted urge to nap for many years. It was only when I started working for myself 10 years ago I realised that it could be a possibility.

I get up at about five am so by 1 or 2.30 pm and I can feel the urge to nap. If I don’t have an urgent deadline, I’ll lie on my couch or bed and set the alarm for 23 minutes – any longer and I find it hard to wake.

I do this at least three days a week.”

How do you feel before and after a nap?

“BEFORE: sleepy, can’t concentrate, can’t think about anything except sleep – there’s an internal battle going on.

AFTER: smooth, together and alert. It’s like having a second morning.

It’s a great circuit breaker,  especially if I’m feeling overwhelmed.

When I was writing a book last year, I could write for 4 or 5 hours but then couldn’t get back to it in the afternoon. However taking a nap would give me another hour in the afternoon.

There are no downsides to napping and it feels so good, why wouldn’t you do it?”

Check out Sarah’s TEDx talk on napping here.