A sleeping mask might seem like a dorky idea, but if you can get used to wearing one, they are quite valuable to light-sensitive people who must sleep during the day. Jacquie LongLegs needed one, and decided to make a mask featuring main Muppet Kermit the Frog. She also documented the process in pictures, so you can make one yourself! Link

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This poor little shar pei puppy just can’t get comfortable. At least his snoring indicates that he’s able to sleep through all of this.

Via Cute Overload

Miss Cellania has scheduled tomorrow morning’s Neatorama staff meeting for only three hours, but we all know that’s an optimistic estimate. I’d better come prepared, and thanks to this design by Kawamura Ganjavian, I can. Here’s how the “Ostrich” works:

OSTRICH offers a micro environment in which to take a warm and comfortable power nap at ease. It is neither a pillow nor a cushion, nor a bed, nor a garment, but a bit of each at the same time. Its soothing cave-like interior shelters and isolates our head and hands (mind, senses and body) for a few minutes, without needing to leave our desk.

Link via Gizmodo

Cats along with mice, pigs and cheetahs love to spend a lot of quality time snoozing. They can sleep for around 12 hours per day. Rats, gerbils and lions are a little ahead of them as they can sleep for about 13 hours a day. This means they essentially spend 2/3rd of their entire lives in dreamland.

As you can see, there are way more than seven animals in this article. You probably won’t be surprised to find out which one is the #1 sleepiest! Link

"Sleep not only rights the wrong of prolonged wakefulness but, at a neurocognitive level, it moves you beyond where you were before you took a nap," said study author Matthew Walker, a psychology professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

The study involved 39 healthy young adults who were placed into either a nap or no-nap group. At noon, all the participants performed a learning task intended to exercise the hippocampus, a region of the brain that helps store fact-based memories. Both groups performed at comparable levels on this test.

Then at 2 p.m., the nap group took a 90-minute siesta while the no-nap group stayed awake. Later that day, at 6 p.m., participants performed a new round of learning exercises. Those who remained awake throughout the day became worse at learning. In contrast, those who napped did markedly better and actually improved in their capacity to learn.

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From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by whitespace.

A short afternoon catnap of 20 minutes yields mostly Stage 2 sleep, which enhances alertness and concentration, elevates mood, and sharpens motor skills. To boost alertness on waking, you can drink a cup of coffee before you nap. Caffeine requires 20 or 30 minutes to take effect, so it will kick in just as you're waking. Naps of up to 45 minutes may also include rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which enhances creative thinking and boosts sensory processing.

Limit your nap to 45 minutes or less, if you need to spring into action after dozing. Otherwise, you may drift into slow-wave sleep. Waking from this stage results in sleep inertia, that grogginess and disorientation that can last for half an hour or more.

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From the Upcoming Queue, submitted by knitmeapony.

This little man’s snoring and sleeping position are just irresistible. It’s like a growling leaf blower. Plus, he’s unwake-able.

Link Via Giggle Sugar

Cute Things Falling Asleep is yet another adorable animal blog, this one exclusively posts videos of its namesake. I’ve gotta say, this one is even a bit too cute for me, but I couldn’t resist this adorable sloth video.

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