I've never been able to take a nap. Unless I'm really ill, I can never even get to sleep before my normal bedtime, even if I've been up all the previous night.

This is a real pain in the ass for me since I sometimes have to get up early for work. On those days I wind up getting home by 5 or 6, and if I want to go out in the evening I wind up bored at home for several hours waiting until 10-11 and then when I do go out I've got to go home early cuz I'm tired.

I've always envied people that can conk out on demand for a few hours. Anyone ever train themselves to do this?

Circadian rhythms are pretty strong and difficult to retrain. There's a natural lull in the afternoon, though. Caffiene also has an effect.

Oh, yeah, the 10 to 15 minute nap. Before I got a job with a company in which sleeping on the job is a firing offense, I found taking that quick 10 minute "down and up" nap very powerful.

I could concentrate after it much better, had fewer extraneous issues on my mind.

Highly recommended. When the weather's nice, you can do it in the parking lot "on your own time".

Nice article Dennis.