Napping
What did Leonardo da Vinci, Napoleon Bonaparte, Thomas Edison and Winston Churchill have in common? They were enthusiastic, unapologetic nappers. And they may have been on to something: Despite napping's unfair reputation as a slothful habit that disrupts nocturnal sleep patterns, new research from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health suggests taking short power naps during the day may increase concentration and alleviate stress.

"If you nap for less than 30 minutes, you'll wake up sharper and reduce midafternoon sleepiness," says Professor Ralph Mistlberger, renowned Simon Fraser University sleep researcher and happy napper. Nap for more than half an hour and you're likely to suffer longer "sleep inertia" – that groggy period between sleep and wakefulness. He recommends drinking a coffee just before your nap, if you are a regular coffee drinker. Caffeine takes about 30 minutes to metabolize, by which time you'll awake refreshed and ready to explain yourself to the boss.