The invisible addiction: is it time to give up caffeine? | Coffee

The long read: Caffeine makes us more energetic, efficient and faster. But we have become so dependent that we need it just to get to our ... SkiptomaincontentSkiptonavigationPhotograph:JonathanKnowles/GettyImagesCaffeinemakesusmoreenergetic,efficientandfaster.ButwehavebecomesodependentthatweneeditjusttogettoourbaselinebyMichaelPollanTue6Jul202106.00BSTLastmodifiedonFri13Aug202100.00BSTAfteryearsofstartingthedaywithatallmorningcoffee,followedbyseveralglassesofgreenteaatintervals,andtheoccasionalcappuccinoafterlunch,Iquitcaffeine,coldturkey.ItwasnotsomethingthatIparticularlywantedtodo,butIhadcometothereluctantconclusionthatthestoryIwaswritingdemandedit.SeveraloftheexpertsIwasinterviewinghadsuggestedthatIreallycouldn’tunderstandtheroleofcaffeineinmylife–itsinvisibleyetpervasivepower–withoutgettingoffitandthen,presumably,gettingbackon.RolandGriffiths,oneoftheworld’sleadingresearchersofmood-alteringdrugs,andthemanmostresponsibleforgettingthediagnosisof“caffeinewithdrawal”includedintheDiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisorders(DSM-5),thebibleofpsychiatricdiagnoses,toldmehehadn’tbeguntounderstandhisownrelationshipwithcaffeineuntilhestoppedusingitandconductedaseriesofself-experiments.Heurgedmetodothesame.Theinvisibleaddiction:isittimetogiveupcaffeine?–podcastReadmoreFormostofus,tobecaffeinatedtoonedegreeoranotherhassimplybecomebaselinehumanconsciousness.Somethinglike90%ofhumansingestcaffeineregularly,makingitthemostwidelyusedpsychoactivedrugintheworld,andtheonlyoneweroutinelygivetochildren(commonlyintheformoffizzydrinks).Fewofuseventhinkofitasadrug,muchlessourdailyuseofitasanaddiction.It’ssopervasivethatit’seasytooverlookthefactthattobecaffeinatedisnotbaselineconsciousnessbut,infact,analteredstate.Itjusthappenstobeastatethatvirtuallyallofusshare,renderingitinvisible.Thescientistshavespelledout,andIhaddulynoted,thepredictablesymptomsofcaffeinewithdrawal:headache,fatigue,lethargy,difficultyconcentrating,decreasedmotivation,irritability,intensedistress,lossofconfidenceanddysphoria.Butbeneaththatdeceptivelymildrubricof“difficultyconcentrating”hidesnothingshortofanexistentialthreattotheworkofthewriter.Howcanyoupossiblyexpecttowriteanythingwhenyoucan’tconcentrate?IpostponeditaslongasIcould,butfinallythedarkdayarrived.AccordingtotheresearchersI’dinterviewed,theprocessofwithdrawalhadactuallybegunovernight,whileIwassleeping,duringthe“trough”inthegraphofcaffeine’sdiurnaleffects.Theday’sfirstcupofteaorcoffeeacquiresmostofitspower–itsjoy!–notsomuchfromitseuphoricandstimulatingpropertiesthanfromthefactthatitissuppressingtheemergingsymptomsofwithdrawal.Thisispartoftheinsidiousnessofcaffeine.Itsmodeofaction,or“pharmacodynamics”,meshsoperfectlywiththerhythmsofthehumanbodythatthemorningcupofcoffeearrivesjustintimetoheadofftheloomingmentaldistresssetinmotionbyyesterday’scupofcoffee.Daily,caffeineproposesitselfastheoptimalsolutiontotheproblemcaffeinecreates.SignuptothelongreadweeklyemailAtthecoffeeshop,insteadofmyusual“halfcaff”,Iorderedacupofminttea.Andonthismorning,thatlovelydispersalofthementalfogthatthefirsthitofcaffeineushersintoconsciousnessneverarrived.Thefogsettledovermeandwouldnotbudge.It’snotthatIfeltterrible–Inevergotaseriousheadache–butalldaylongIfeltacertainmuzziness,asifaveilhaddescendedinthespacebetweenmeandreality,akindoffilterthatabsorbedcertainwavelengthsoflightandsound.Iwasabletodosomework,butdistractedly.“Ifeellikeanunsharpenedpencil,”Iwroteinmynotebook.“Thingsontheperipheryintrude,andwon’tbeignored.Ican’tfocusformorethanaminute.”Overthecourseofthenextfewdays,Ibegantofeelbetter,theveillifted,yetIwasstillnotquitemyself,andneither,quite,wastheworld.Inthisnewnormal,theworldseemeddullertome.Iseemedduller,too.Morningsweretheworst.Icametoseehowintegralcaffeineistothedailyworkofknittingourselvesbacktogetherafterthefrayingofconsciousnessduringsleep.Thatreconsolidationofselftookmuchlongerthanusual,andneverquitefeltcomplete.Humanity’sacquaintancewithcaffeineissurprisinglyrecent.Butitishardlyanexaggerationtosaythatthismoleculeremadetheworld.Thechangeswroughtbycoffeeandteaoccurredatafundamentallevel–thelevelofthehumanmind.Coffeeandteausheredinashiftinthementalweather,sharpeningmindsthathadbeenfoggedbyalcohol,freeingpeoplefromthenaturalrhythmsofthebodyandthesun,thusmakingpossiblewholenewkindsofworkand,arguably,newkindsofthought,too.Bythe15thcentury,coffeewasbeingcultivatedineastAfricaandtradedacrosstheArabianpeninsula.Initially,thenewdrinkwasregardedasanaidetoconcentrationandusedbySufisinYementokeepthemfromdozingoffduringtheirreligiousobservances.(Tea,too,startedoutasalittlehelperforBuddhistmonksstrivingtostayawakethroughlongstretchesofmeditation.)Withinacentury,coffeehouseshadsprungupincitiesacrosstheArabworld.In1570thereweremorethan600oftheminConstantinoplealone,andtheyspreadnorthandwestwiththeOttomanempire.TheIslamicworldatthistimewasinmanyrespectsmoreadvancedthanEurope,inscienceandtechnology,andinlearning.Whetherthismentalflourishinghadanythingtodowiththeprevalenceofcoffee(andprohibitionofalcohol)isdifficulttoprove,butastheGermanhistorianWolfgangSchivelbuschhasargued,thebeverage“seemedtobetailor-​madeforaculturethatforbadealcoholconsumptionandgavebirthtomodernmathematics”.Acoffeehousein17th-centuryLondon.Photograph:LordpriceCollection/AlamyIn1629thefirstcoffeehousesinEurope,styledonArabandTurkishmodels,poppedupinVenice,andthefirstsuchestablishmentinEnglandwasopenedinOxfordin1650byaJewishimmigrant.TheyarrivedinLondonshortlythereafter,andproliferated:withinafewdecadestherewerethousandsofcoffeehousesinLondon;attheirpeak,oneforevery200Londoners.TocalltheEnglishcoffeehouseanewkindofpublicspacedoesn’tquitedoitjustice.Youpaidapennyforthecoffee,buttheinformation–intheformofnewspapers,books,magazinesandconversation–wasfree.(Coffeehouseswereoftenreferredtoas“pennyuniversities”.)AftervisitingLondoncoffeehouses,aFrenchwriternamedMaximilienMissonwrote,“YouhaveallMannerofNewsthere;Youhaveagoodfire,whichyoumaysitbyaslongasyouplease:YouhaveaDishofCoffee;youmeetyourFriendsfortheTransactionofBusiness,andallforaPenny,ifyoudon’tcaretospendmore.”London’scoffeehousesweredistinguishedonefromanotherbytheprofessionalorintellectualinterestsoftheirpatrons,whicheventuallygavethemspecificinstitutionalidentities.So,forexample,merchantsandmenwithinterestsinshippinggatheredatLloyd’sCoffeeHouse.Hereyoucouldlearnwhatshipswerearrivinganddeparting,andbuyaninsurancepolicyonyourcargo.Lloyd’sCoffeeHouseeventuallybecametheinsurancebrokerageLloyd’sofLondon.Learnedtypesandscientists–knownthenas“naturalphilosophers”–gatheredattheGrecian,whichbecamecloselyassociatedwiththeRoyalSociety;IsaacNewtonandEdmondHalleydebatedphysicsandmathematicshere,andsupposedlyoncedissectedadolphinonthepremises.TheconversationinLondon’scoffeehousesfrequentlyturnedtopolitics,invigorousexercisesoffreespeechthatdrewtheireofthegovernment,especiallyafterthemonarchywasrestoredin1660.CharlesII,worriedthatplotswerebeinghatchedincoffeehouses,decidedthattheplacesweredangerousfomentersofrebellionthatthecrownneededtosuppress.In1675thekingmovedtoclosedownthecoffeehouses,onthegroundsthatthe“false,maliciousandscandalousReports”emanatingtherefromwerea“DisturbanceoftheQuietandPeaceoftheRealm”.Likesomanyothercompoundsthatchangethequalitiesofconsciousnessinindividuals,caffeinewasregardedasathreattoinstitutionalpower,whichmovedtosuppressit,inaforeshadowingofthewarsagainstdrugstocome.Buttheking’swaragainstcoffeelastedonly11days.Charlesdiscoveredthatitwastoolatetoturnbackthetideofcaffeine.BythenthecoffeehousewassuchafixtureofEnglishcultureanddailylife–andsomanyeminentLondonershadbecomeaddictedtocaffeine–thateveryonesimplyignoredtheking’sorderandblithelywentondrinkingcoffee.Afraidtotesthisauthorityandfinditlacking,thekingquietlybackeddown,issuingasecondproclamationrollingbackthefirst“outofprincelyconsiderationandroyalcompassion”.It’shardtoimaginethatthesortofpolitical,culturalandintellectualfermentthatbubbledupinthecoffeehousesofbothFranceandEnglandinthe17thcenturywouldeverhavedevelopedinatavern.Thekindofmagicalthinkingthatalcoholsponsoredinthemedievalmindbegantoyieldtoanewspiritofrationalismand,abitlater,Enlightenmentthinking.FrenchhistorianJulesMicheletwrote:“Coffee,thesoberdrink,themightynourishmentofthebrain,whichunlikeotherspirits,heightenspurityandlucidity;coffee,whichclearsthecloudsoftheimaginationandtheirgloomyweight;whichilluminestherealityofthingssuddenlywiththeflashoftruth.”Tosee,lucidly,“therealityofthings”:thiswas,inanutshell,therationalistproject.Coffeebecame,alongwiththemicroscope,telescopeandthepen,oneofitsindispensabletools.Afterafewweeks,thementalimpairmentsofwithdrawalhadsubsided,andIcouldonceagainthinkinastraightline,holdanabstractioninmyheadformorethantwominutes,andshutperipheralthoughtsoutofmyfieldofattention.YetIcontinuedtofeelasthoughIwasmentallyjustslightlybehindthecurve,especiallywheninthecompanyofdrinkersofcoffeeandtea,which,ofcourse,wasallthetimeandeverywhere.Here’swhatIwasmissing:Imissedthewaycaffeineanditsritualsusedtoordermyday,especiallyinthemorning.Herbalteas–whicharebarely,ifatall,psychoactive–lackthepowerofcoffeeandteatoorganisethedayintoarhythmofenergeticpeaksandvalleys,asthementaltideofcaffeineebbsandflows.Themorningsurgeisablessing,obviously,butthereisalsosomethingcomfortingintheebbtideofafternoon,whichacupofteacangentlyreverse.AtsomepointIbegantowonderifperhapsitwasallinmyhead,thissensethatIhadlostamentalstepsincegettingoffcoffeeandtea.SoIdecidedtolookatthescience,tolearnwhat,ifany,cognitiveenhancementcanactuallybeattributedtocaffeine.Ifoundnumerousstudiesconductedovertheyearsreportingthatcaffeineimprovesperformanceonarangeofcognitivemeasures–ofmemory,focus,alertness,vigilance,attentionandlearning.Anexperimentdoneinthe1930sfoundthatchessplayersoncaffeineperformedsignificantlybetterthanplayerswhoabstained.Inanotherstudy,caffeineuserscompletedavarietyofmentaltasksmorequickly,thoughtheymademoreerrors;asonepaperputitinitstitle,peopleoncaffeineare“faster,butnotsmarter”.Ina2014experiment,subjectsgivencaffeineimmediatelyafterlearningnewmaterialremembereditbetterthansubjectswhoreceivedaplacebo.Testsofpsychomotorabilitiesalsosuggestthatcaffeinegivesusanedge:insimulateddrivingexercises,caffeineimprovesperformance,especiallywhenthesubjectistired.Italsoenhancesphysicalperformanceonsuchmetricsastimetrials,musclestrengthandendurance.True,thereisreasontotakethesefindingswithapinchofsalt,ifonlybecausethiskindofresearchisdifficulttodowell.Theproblemisfindingagoodcontrolgroupinasocietyinwhichvirtuallyeveryoneisaddictedtocaffeine.Buttheconsensusseemstobethatcaffeinedoesimprovemental(andphysical)performancetosomedegree.Whethercaffeinealsoenhancescreativityisadifferentquestion,however,andthere’ssomereasontodoubtthatitdoes.Caffeineimprovesourfocusandabilitytoconcentrate,whichsurelyenhanceslinearandabstractthinking,butcreativityworksverydifferently.Itmaydependonthelossofacertainkindoffocus,andthefreedomtoletthemindofftheleashoflinearthought.Cognitivepsychologistssometimestalkintermsoftwodistincttypesofconsciousness:spotlightconsciousness,whichilluminatesasinglefocalpointofattention,makingitverygoodforreasoning,andlanternconsciousness,inwhichattentionislessfocusedyetilluminatesabroaderfieldofattention.Youngchildrentendtoexhibitlanternconsciousness;sodomanypeopleonpsychedelics.Thismorediffuseformofattentionlendsitselftomindwandering,freeassociation,andthemakingofnovelconnections–allofwhichcannourishcreativity.Bycomparison,caffeine’sbigcontributiontohumanprogresshasbeentointensifyspotlightconsciousness–thefocused,linear,abstractandefficientcognitiveprocessingmorecloselyassociatedwithmentalworkthanplay.This,morethananythingelse,iswhatmadecaffeinetheperfectdrugnotonlyfortheageofreasonandtheEnlightenment,butfortheriseofcapitalism,too.Thepowerofcaffeinetokeepusawakeandalert,tostemthenaturaltideofexhaustion,freedusfromthecircadianrhythmsofourbiologyandso,alongwiththeadventofartificiallight,openedthefrontierofnighttothepossibilitiesofwork.Whatcoffeedidforclerksandintellectuals,teawouldsoondofortheEnglishworkingclass.Indeed,itwasteafromtheEastIndies–heavilysweetenedwithsugarfromtheWestIndies–thatfuelledtheIndustrialRevolution.WethinkofEnglandasateaculture,butcoffee,initiallythecheaperbeveragebyfar,dominatedatfirst.SoonaftertheBritishEastIndiaCompanybegantradingwithChina,cheapteafloodedEngland.Abeveragethatonlythewell-to-docouldaffordtodrinkin1700wasby1800consumedbyvirtuallyeveryone,fromthesocietymatrontothefactoryworker.TeapickersinAssam,India.Photograph:AFP/GettyTosupplythisdemandrequiredanimperialistenterpriseofenormousscaleandbrutality,especiallyaftertheBritishdecideditwouldbemoreprofitabletoturnIndia,itscolony,intoateaproducer,thantobuyteafromtheChinese.ThisrequiredfirststealingthesecretsofteaproductionfromtheChinese(amissionaccomplishedbytherenownedScotsbotanistandplantexplorerRobertFortune,disguisedasamandarin);seizinglandfrompeasantfarmersinAssam(whereteagrewwild),andthenforcingthefarmersintoservitude,pickingtealeavesfromdawntodusk.Theintroductionofteatothewestwasallaboutexploitation–theextractionofsurplusvaluefromlabour,notonlyinitsproductioninIndia,butinitsconsumptionbytheBritishaswell.TeaallowedtheBritishworkingclasstoendurelongshifts,brutalworkingconditionsandmoreorlessconstanthunger;thecaffeinehelpedquietthehungerpangs,andthesugarinitbecameacrucialsourceofcalories.(Fromastrictlynutritionalstandpoint,workerswouldhavebeenbetteroffstickingwithbeer.)Thecaffeineinteahelpedcreateanewkindofworker,onebetteradaptedtotheruleofthemachine.ItisdifficulttoimagineanIndustrialRevolutionwithoutit.Sohowexactlydoescoffee,andcaffeinemoregenerally,makeusmoreenergetic,efficientandfaster?Howcouldthislittlemoleculepossiblysupplythehumanbodyenergywithoutcalories?Couldcaffeinebetheproverbialfreelunch,ordowepayapriceforthementalandphysicalenergy–thealertness,focusandstamina–thatcaffeinegivesus?Alas,thereisnofreelunch.Itturnsoutthatcaffeineonlyappearstogiveusenergy.Caffeineworksbyblockingtheactionofadenosine,amoleculethatgraduallyaccumulatesinthebrainoverthecourseoftheday,preparingthebodytorest.Caffeinemoleculesinterferewiththisprocess,keepingadenosinefromdoingitsjob–andkeepingusfeelingalert.Butadenosinelevelscontinuetorise,sothatwhenthecaffeineiseventuallymetabolised,theadenosinefloodsthebody’sreceptorsandtirednessreturns.Sotheenergythatcaffeinegivesusisborrowed,ineffect,andeventuallythedebtmustbepaidback.Foraslongaspeoplehavebeendrinkingcoffeeandtea,medicalauthoritieshavewarnedaboutthedangersofcaffeine.Butuntilnow,caffeinehasbeenclearedofthemostseriouschargesagainstit.Thecurrentscientificconsensusismorethanreassuring–infact,theresearchsuggeststhatcoffeeandtea,farfrombeingdeleterioustoourhealth,mayoffersomeimportantbenefits,aslongastheyaren’tconsumedtoexcess.Regularcoffeeconsumptionisassociatedwithadecreasedriskofseveralcancers(includingbreast,prostate,colorectalandendometrial),cardiovasculardisease,type2diabetes,Parkinson’sdisease,dementiaandpossiblydepressionandsuicide.(Thoughhighdosescanproducenervousnessandanxiety,andratesofsuicideclimbamongthosewhodrinkeightormorecupsaday.)Myreviewofthemedicalliteratureoncoffeeandteamademewonderifmyabstentionmightbecompromisingnotonlymymentalfunctionbutmyphysicalhealth,aswell.However,thatwasbeforeIspoketoMattWalker.AnEnglishneuroscientistonthefacultyatUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley,Walker,authorofWhyWeSleep,issingle-mindedinhismission:toalerttheworldtoaninvisiblepublic-healthcrisis,whichisthatwearenotgettingnearlyenoughsleep,thesleepwearegettingisofpoorquality,andaprincipalculpritinthiscrimeagainstbodyandmindiscaffeine.Caffeineitselfmightnotbebadforyou,butthesleepit’sstealingfromyoumayhaveaprice.AccordingtoWalker,researchsuggeststhatinsufficientsleepmaybeakeyfactorinthedevelopmentofAlzheimer’sdisease,arteriosclerosis,stroke,heartfailure,depression,anxiety,suicideandobesity.“Theshorteryousleep,”hebluntlyconcludes,“theshorteryourlifespan.”WalkergrewupinEnglanddrinkingcopiousamountsofblacktea,morning,noonandnight.Henolongerconsumescaffeine,saveforthesmallamountsinhisoccasionalcupofdecaf.Infact,noneofthesleepresearchersorexpertsoncircadianrhythmsIinterviewedforthisstoryusecaffeine.Photograph:Stockimo/AlamyWalkerexplainedthat,formostpeople,the“quarterlife”ofcaffeineisusuallyabout12hours,meaningthat25%ofthecaffeineinacupofcoffeeconsumedatnoonisstillcirculatinginyourbrainwhenyougotobedatmidnight.Thatcouldwellbeenoughtocompletelywreckyourdeepsleep.IthoughtofmyselfasaprettygoodsleeperbeforeImetWalker.Atlunchheprobedmeaboutmysleephabits.ItoldhimIusuallygetasolidsevenhours,fallasleepeasily,dreammostnights.“Howmanytimesanightdoyouwakeup?”heasked.I’mupthreeorfourtimesanight(usuallytopee),butIalmostalwaysfallrightbacktosleep.Henoddedgravely.“That’sreallynotgood,allthoseinterruptions.Sleepqualityisjustasimportantassleepquantity.”Theinterruptionswereunderminingtheamountof“deep”or“slowwave”sleepIwasgetting,somethingaboveandbeyondtheREMsleepIhadalwaysthoughtwasthemeasureofagoodnight’srest.Butitseemsthatdeepsleepisjustasimportanttoourhealth,andtheamountwegettendstodeclinewithage.Caffeineisnotthesolecauseofoursleepcrisis;screens,alcohol(whichisashardonREMsleepascaffeineisondeepsleep),pharmaceuticals,workschedules,noiseandlightpollution,andanxietycanallplayaroleinunderminingboththedurationandqualityofoursleep.Buthere’swhat’suniquelyinsidiousaboutcaffeine:thedrugisnotonlyaleadingcauseofoursleepdeprivation;itisalsotheprincipaltoolwerelyontoremedytheproblem.Mostofthecaffeineconsumedtodayisbeingusedtocompensateforthelousysleepthatcaffeinecauses–whichmeansthatcaffeineishelpingtohidefromourawarenesstheveryproblemthatcaffeinecreates.Thetimecametowrapupmyexperimentincaffeinedeprivation.Iwaseagertoseewhatabodythathadbeeninnocentofcaffeineforthreemonthswouldexperiencewhensubjectedtoacoupleofshotsofespresso.IhadthoughtlongandhardaboutwhatkindofcoffeeIwouldget,andwhere.Ioptedfora“special”,mylocalcoffeeshop’stermforadouble-​shotespressomadewithlesssteamedmilkthanatypicalcappuccino;it’smorecommonlyknownasaflatwhite.Myspecialwasunbelievablygood,aringingreminderofwhatapoorcounterfeitdecafis;herewerewholedimensionsanddepthsofflavourthatIhadcompletelyforgottenabout.Everythinginmyvisualfieldseemedpleasantlyitalicised,filmic,andIwonderedifallthesepeoplewiththeircardboard-sleeve-swaddledcupshadanyideawhatapowerfuldrugtheyweresipping.Buthowcouldthey?Theyhadlongagobecomehabituatedtocaffeine,andwerenowusingitforanotherpurposeentirely.Baselinemaintenance,thatis,plusawelcomelittlelift.Ifeltluckythatthismorepowerfulexperiencewasavailabletome.This–alongwiththestellarsleeps–wasthewonderfuldividendofmyinvestmentinabstention.Andyetinafewdays’timeIwouldbethem,caffeine-tolerantandaddictedalloveragain.Iwondered:wasthereanywaytopreservethepowerofthisdrug?CouldIdeviseanewrelationshipwithcaffeine?Maybetreatitmorelikeapsychedelic–say,somethingtobetakenonlyonoccasion,andwithagreaterdegreeofceremonyandintention.MaybejustdrinkcoffeeonSaturdays?Justtheone.HowNespresso'scoffeerevolutiongotgrounddownReadmoreWhenIgothomeItackledmyto-dolistwithunaccustomedfervour,harnessingthesurgeofenergy–offocus!–coursingthroughme,andputittogooduse.Icompulsivelyclearedanddecluttered–onthecomputer,inmycloset,inthegardenandtheshed.Iraked,Iweeded,Iputthingsinorder,asifIwerepossessed.WhateverIfocusedon,Ifocusedonzealouslyandsingle-mindedly.Aroundnoon,mycompulsivenessbegantosubside,andIfeltreadyforachangeofscene.Ihadyankedafewplantsoutofthevegetablegardenthatwerenotpullingtheirweight,anddecidedtogotothegardencentretobuysomereplacements.ItwasduringthedrivethatIrealisedthetruereasonIwasheadingtothisparticulargardencentre:ithadthisAirstreamtrailerparkedoutfrontthatservedreallygoodespresso.Thisarticlewasamendedon8July2021toincludementionoftheTurkishinfluenceonearlyEuropeancoffeehouses.ThisisaneditedextractfromThisIsYourMindonPlants:Opium-Caffeine-MescalinebyMichaelPollan,publishedbyAllenLaneon8Julyandavailableatguardianbookshop.co.ukTopicsThelongreadCoffeeFoodHealthHealth&wellbeingfeaturesReusethiscontentMoreonthisstoryMoreonthisstorySleepingwithlightonlinkedtohigherriskofheartdiseaseanddiabetesSleepinglongercanhelpcutcalorieintake–studyKeepitshortandbefore3pm:whatthesleepscientistssayaboutnapsNationalTrusttogivestaffsiestasinsummer‘Sleepisventurecapital’:employerswakeuptobenefitsofanapFromAristotletoEinstein:abriefhistoryofpowernappersPuttingdownmyphoneandpickingupabookhassavedmysleep‘Aneyemasktransformedmylife!’:10readersonhowtogetaperfectnight’ssleepWhyamIalwaystiredonthesofa,butwideawakeonceIgotobed?MostviewedMostviewedFashionFoodRecipesLove&sexHealth&fitnessHome&gardenWomenMenFamilyTravelMoney