The whole point of the ‘caffeine nap’ is that by consuming coffee right before a kip, you get the benefits of the nap and the benefits of the caffeine when you wake up. Both offer huge benefits, both mentally and physically. Coffee, which has been found to improve gut and heart health, boosts attention by halting the production of adenosine – a neurotransmitter that promotes sleepiness. In fact, one study which looked at the best strategies for staying alert while driving found that coffee was the most powerful intervention, compared to napping and decaf. But napping also has plenty of proven benefits, including improved working memory, mental agility and reduced risk of cardiovascular issues.

“Since sleep plays an important role in storing memories, a nap can help you remember things learned earlier in the day as much as a full night’s sleep. Napping works to keep you from forgetting things like motor skills, sense perception, and verbal recall, too,” explains psychiatrist Dr Meeta Singh.

How to beat the 3pm slump: try drinking coffee before having a nap for a serious energy boost