Napping is for babies and toddlers. Or is it? As it turns out, a power nap of 10 to 30 minutes a day could be beneficial to all of us. You’ll love to hear that Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and John F. Kennedy were all known to enjoy a short nap in the afternoon.
Here’s a list of 10 reasons you should consider taking a nap during the day!
- Reduced fatigue: You’ll be more alert after a power nap. You’ll feel refreshed and awake for a longer period of time.
- Increased productivity: Napping has been shown to help people get more work done in the afternoon. Even 10 minutes of shut-eye can be beneficial.
- Increased creativity: Some of your best ideas may come to you during or just after a relaxing power nap. Think of those genius minds we mentioned above!
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Decreased inflammation: Napping can support the body’s ability to fight inflammation. - Improved mood: You’ll wake up in a better mood after a short afternoon nap.
- Better performance: Thanks to a nap, reaction times shorten, meaning fewer mistakes, fewer car accidents, and therefore better health and happiness.
- Relaxation: The alone time allows you to unwind and rest.
- Weight loss: Suprised? Those who opt for a quick nap are less likely to reach for sugary, caffeinated drinks, or things like donuts and cupcakes in the afternoon. Sugary beverages and snacks increase blood sugar levels. Once levels plummet, you’ll want more. They’re also dehydrating, which may cause headaches.
- Better memory: During a power nap, the hippocampus in the brain can transfer short-term memories into the long-term memory database.
- Reduced stress: Like meditation, napping helps you to transition from a sympathetic (fight-or-flight) state to a parasympathetic (relaxed) state. Your perception of stressful situations will improve significantly.
With so many people getting fewer than the recommended eight hours of sleep per night, a power nap may be just the solution. However, be mindful of a couple of things:
- Don’t sleep too late in the day, or you’ll risk not being able to fall asleep at night.
- Don’t sleep for too long. You should not nap more than 30 minutes if you want to avoid sleep inertia, grogginess and brain fog.
If you’re concerned that you’ll sleep for too long, start by setting an alarm for just 15 minutes. It’s important not to fall into a deep sleep. Play around with sleep times. You’ll find that ideal nap times vary from one person to the next.
— The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.journalsleep.org/ViewAbstract.aspx?pid=28574
http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2012/07/24/why-you-should-take-a-10-minute-nap-every-day/
http://time.com/3449959/is-napping-healthy/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/napping/art-20048319?reDate=16072015
