Need an Energy Boost? Skip the Coffee, Take a Nap

I love grabbing a nap on the weekend. If you find that you can't make it through the day without naps, or an energy drink, then reach for a pillow. Sleep experts say naps may be the best way to make up for that lost sleep.

The benefits from 15 to 20 minutes of napping can be amazing” says Sara C. Mednick, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego.

The length of nap you take helps determine the benefits to the brain. A 20-minute power nap is good for alertness, while longer naps help boost memory and enhance creativity.