Need to learn how to power nap - any tips?!

[ICompletelyKnowAboutGuineaPigs]

So after a horrendous nights sleep last night (note to self, stock up on decaff tea bags) I decided to treat myself to a one hour power nap after dropping the children off this morning. 3 hours later and I'm still in bed trying to wake up enough to get on with my very long to-do list.

Anyone got any good tips on how to have shorter naps?!

Am exactly the same. Watching for any helpful hits! I try to sleep when ds naps but if he wakes up after an hour I feel terrible!

Unfortunately I can't just take a nap it's either nothing or a full 10 hours! I guess an alarm obviously and a plan of what you're going to do as soon as you're awake so you don't have an excuse to lay there further. A good way to wake up is quickly go outside for some fresh air, take a drink of water, wash your face to wake yourself up and go.

nope i cant do it, well i do sometimes only 40 mins or so but it always makes me feel like shit, i time it so i HAVE to get up and do school run etc, but i just end up feeling like crap, a drink and a quick wash help as romy said :)

I think a normal sleep cycle is around 40 mins long. So you should set alarm for 40 mins stints. So either have a short 40 min nap, or 80 mins (1hr 20 mins) etc etc

Jumping onto what forever says, there is a phone app that is an alarm that goes off when you are between sleep cycles nearest the time that you have set it to go off. You just set it and lay your phone on the mattress and it works by detecting your movements when you stir. I can't remember what it is called unfortunately, but I used it for a while and it really does make it easier to get up than it is when being woken from sound asleep. Not sure how you would go with a nap; I suppose you would need to give yourself at least enough time for one or two cycles as forever says.