You Deserve a Great Nap

Credit...Eiko OjalaYou can’t beat coffee for a morning pick-me-up, but as the day wears on, energy levels can slump. To regain your momentum, should you reach for that third latte? Or push through and hope you perk up?

Sleep scientists have a better idea: Take a nap.

A nap is “like a performance-enhancing drug without the drug part,” said Jade Wu, a sleep psychologist and researcher at Duke University. Napping can help you think more clearly, react more quickly, boost your mood and improve your memory, she said.

But a good nap is as much art as science, and can take some practice to master. If you work from home or can find a quiet space at the office, or even if your nap opportunities are…