Clocks aren't very interesting for me. My days are ruled by the sun, and vary considerably at this latitude during the year. This is siesta season. I start work very early, in the cool pre-dawn, and get after it until it gets too hot. Then I eat, rest and nap for a few hours along with all other sensible creatures except, it is said, mad dogs and Englishmen.

Most mammals sleep for short periods throughout the day. . . Our bodies are programmed for two periods of sleepiness: in the early morning, from 2 to 4 a.m., and in the afternoon, between 1 and 3 p.m.

It isn't the heat, or high carb food, that makes us drowsy. That's how we are. Tips for napping.

A short afternoon catnap of 20 minutes . . . 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 to 30 minutes to take effect. . .

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 serious sleep inertia. . .

Naps of 90 to 120 minutes . . . help to clear your mind, improve memory recall, and recoup lost sleep. A nap that is long enough to include a full sleep cycle, at least 90 minutes, will limit sleep inertia . . .

If you see the value of naps, and can arrange your affairs to allow them, then do it intentionally, comfortably, skillfully. Nap with a good conscience and do it well. Well? Yes, there are napping skills. One clever technique that I've used for years (and years, and years . . .) is supposedly a yoga discipline, or so I was told long ago.

Calm your body by breathing slowly and deeply. Concentrate on relaxing your muscles one group at a time.

As I was taught you should also focus on feeling heavy, of sinking into the sleep surface a bit.

Added moments later:

I manage my animals this way too. I'm trying to finish them, to fatten them, so anything I can do to encourage or comfort them pays since they eat more and digest better. In a sense, they are happier, and that goes right to the bottom line. So, I'm on their schedule so to speak. When they nap we call it loafing, and it's not just resting in the shade. That's when they upchuck a cud and rechew their last meal, which breaks down fibrous material further so that rumen bacteria have more surfaces to work on, and so improves digestion. The better job they do the more nutritional value they get from their forage and the better they gain.