The Weeknd Advocates for 'Astronaut Naps' to Alleviate Stress: 'Works Like Magic'

If it’s good enough for an astronaut, it’s good enough for Abel Tesfaye, a.k.a. (soon-to-be f.k.a.?) The Weeknd.

In his new Complex cover conversation, Abel attested to the daily benefits he gets out of carefully timed naps, crediting the practice with helping him manage his stress levels.

“I’ve been fond of taking naps recently,” he said, as seen in the full cover story here. “Astronaut naps. 26 minutes. Turn the whole world off. Turn all the lights off and put your alarm to 26 minutes exactly. No more or less. Works like magic.”

26 minutes is indeed the ideal length to aim for when napping, at least according to an oft-cited NASA study. This length, the agency says, leads to a boost in alertness and performance, though it’s imperative to not nap too long or too late into the day. Otherwise, you may not be able to fully tap into these benefits.

Napping, particularly in combination with an adequate amount of nightly sleep, can also be a real boost to one's creativity. The same is true of Transcendental Meditation, a practice seemingly hinted at by way of Jim Carrey's cameo on Abel's 2022 album Dawn FM.

Hurry Up Tomorrow, The Weeknd’s latest album, arrived in January and is intended to serve as the conclusion of a trilogy. An Abel-starring film of the same name, also featuring Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan, is set to hit theaters in May.

To read The Weeknd’s Complex cover story in full, this is where you need to be. Head here to shop the Complex Cover Collection.