Take it from me, the queen of sleep – micro-naps will transform your life | Emma Brockes

These little wonders will give you a much-needed boost, and this is the perfect time to practice. Go on, you only need 10 minutes

I'm a big napper. World class, in fact. I can go from awake to the bottom of the ocean in five minutes flat, like a high diver off a cliff. It's a longstanding talent of mine, but I've noticed, lately, that unlike other facilities that wane with middle age, my napping skills are only growing stronger. Times were when I wouldn't have dared reach for a nap unless I had a clean hour before the next commitment. Now, with even 15 minutes to spare - 10 at an absolute push - I'll risk it. It might look like narcolepsy, but I know the truth: that micro-napping is the key to everything.

I mean, not everything, obviously. But it is definitely the key to functionality after 4pm, the second shift when your kids come home from school and you reward them with your frazzled, after-work energy. Too much screen-time happens in my house because the idea of sitting on the floor to play Anarchy Pancakes or Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza with my nine-year-olds feels like a request to put on iron trousers and climb a steep hill. (And, as I've discovered, the only thing worse than not playing is playing in a limp, half-arsed way then calling the game off after one round with a bright that was fun!" that makes everyone scowl.)