This Life Coach Went Viral For An 8-Minute Nap Hack That'll Have You Falling Asleep Instantaneously, And People In The Comments Are Impressed

"We all go through days where we need a quick pick-me-up but don't have the time for a two-hour snooze."

If you're someone who's always sleepy, you know that there's a fine line between a good nap that makes you feel energized and a bad nap that will have you oversleeping for two hours and waking up disoriented and dehydrated.

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That's why I was interested to find this video from Nick Vitello (@getaheadwithnick), who claimed to have an insanely effective nap hack. In the video, Nick explains that this is useful when you're super tired but only have about eight minutes to nap. For the hack, he explains, you lie on the floor, elevate your legs onto something (like a couch or bed), and then set a timer for eight minutes before falling asleep.

@getaheadwithnick / Via tiktok.com

So far, Nick's video has 27.8M views, 4.8M likes, and a comment section that's impressed, though still skeptical.

@getaheadwithnick / Via tiktok.com

The nap hack that Nick mentions in the video, which he says is a Navy Seal hack, was popularized by retired US Navy SEAL officer Jocko Willink. Willink says that he elevates his feet above his heart to nap and recommends a prime nap time of eight minutes, though he adds that he may push it to 10 or 12 minutes, maximum.

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I spoke with Nick, a social media life coach and fan of Willink's, who described his first time trying the nap hack: "I had about 15 minutes to spare before a jiu-jitsu class and felt super tired, so I decided to take the eight-minute nap. ... I can vouch for its effectiveness." He also documented the experience for TikTok and Instagram, adding, "I knew this trick would benefit lots of people because we all go through days where we need a quick pick-me-up but don't have the time for a two-hour snooze."

@getaheadwithnick

Nick also said that he loved the attention that the video has been receiving. "It feels so good to get recognition for a piece of advice that really surprises people and can help them live life just a little bit better. There is no better or more fulfilling feeling than inspiring, teaching, and truly improving the life of somebody else," he shared.

To get some more information, I spoke with Doctor Luis Chug, MD, a pulmonary and sleep medicine specialist based in Houston, Texas. Dr. Chug said that while a nap method like this can be temporarily helpful, you should instead prioritize getting a good night's rest. "Power naps may momentarily improve the conditions of sleep deprivation, just like caffeine, but neither of these replaces hours of sleep that our body needs," he explained.

Instagram: @breathesleepmd

Dr. Chug recommended that if you're taking a "power nap," you should actually limit it to 10-20 minutes. He further explained that naps closer to five minutes aren't long enough to provide any real benefit, while a longer nap, closer to 40 minutes, can cause you to enter "deep sleep," which may actually leave you groggier upon waking up.

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Moreover, Dr. Chug added that while elevating your legs during the nap won't necessarily contribute to the quality of sleep, it will help decrease swelling and improve blood flow. The purpose of this type of leg elevation, called passive leg raising (PLR), is "to elevate the legs above the heart in a manner that will help blood flow to the heart," he specified.

However, he also warned that elevating your legs for prolonged periods of time isn't recommended for patients with difficulty managing fluids, like those with heart disease, as it could be harmful. 

If you're looking to take a productive nap, Dr. Chug said to set a timer for 10-20 minutes and look for a cool, dark place to rest in. If you're having a tough time falling asleep, he also recommended practicing relaxation or breathing exercises. He said that there are benefits to productive naps like these, including "improving learning, aiding memory formation, and regulating emotions." Additionally, he shared that naps may be incredibly helpful to those in shift work (any work schedule that falls outside the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.), as well as those who could benefit from a nap to improve their alertness and reaction time.

Instagram: @breathesleepmd

However, Dr. Chug again advised not to rely on napping too heavily, and instead said, "Focus on why you’re napping. The need to sleep during the day can be a sign that you are not sleeping enough at night." He even said that too much napping could possibly be the reason you may find yourself not getting enough sleep when it's time for bed.

He added, "Sometimes, napping can put you in a vicious circle. Because of your sleep during the day, you have difficulty falling asleep at night, which causes you the urge to sleep during the day."

Have you ever tried this nap hack? Let me know in the comments!