How a ‘coffee nap’ can help you feel more rested — and the exact timing to get the most out of it

Talk about a grounds-breaking strategy.

If you’re dragging your feet at 2 p.m., we’ve got a brew-tiful solution to your midday slump.

One buzzy sleep trick that’s been gathering steam is the coffee nap — and, while it sounds counterintuitive, some experts swear by it!

“A coffee nap — where you drink coffee right before a short nap — can be more effective than either coffee or napping alone,” nutritionist Nichola Ludlam-Raine told The Post on behalf of the European retailer Coffee Friend.

Here’s why it works: caffeine takes about 20 minutes to hit your system — right around the time your nap is ending — so you wake up with a double shot of energy.

“A short nap naturally reduces adenosine levels — the sleep-inducing chemical that makes you feel tired,” Ludlam-Raine explained. “By the time you wake up, the caffeine is starting to work, making you feel even more alert.”

It may seem a bit unconventional — but science says a jolt of java followed by a power snooze comes with quite a few perks.

“Studies suggest coffee naps can improve reaction times, alertness and cognitive function — especially during an afternoon slump,” she said.

But be careful not to over-brew it.

“It’s important to keep naps short — no more than 20 minutes — otherwise, you risk entering deeper sleep, which can leave you feeling groggy,” she warned.

Here are a few ways to really maximize your coffee nap.

Time it right

Ludlam-Raine previously told The Post that having your first cup of joe as soon as you wake up might interfere with your body’s natural cortisol levels.

If you think you can make it, she suggests delaying until mid-to-late morning — or about 60 to 90 minutes after waking — to align with the natural decline of cortisol and allow the caffeine boost to be most effective.

Keep it brief

While a quick nap can rejuvenate your day, napping too long or at the wrong time can backfire.

Dr. Thomas Michael Kilkenny, director of the Institute of Sleep Medicine at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, previously told The Post that naps of 10 to 30 minutes are ideal to prevent sleep inertia — the grogginess experienced after waking from deep sleep.

Experts say the sweet spot for short-term shut-eye is between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., to align with your body’s natural circadian rhythms.

Avoid nighttime napmares

Make sure you don’t nap too late in the day, otherwise you risk sabotaging nighttime sleep.

Taking an early evening nap expecting to be sleepy at your normal time is kind of like having a big, late lunch at 5 p.m., thinking you’ll still be hungry at 7 — probably not!