Did you know that some towns actually shut down in the afternoon so that everybody can go or a quick power nap, recharge and come back to work? Unfortunately, this isn’t the case in the US where a mid-day nap is quite the luxury rarely who can afford and is often considered a sign of utmost laziness. If you’re among those who enjoy the occasional weekend snooze, feel free to continue with it because as it turns out napping is healthy and it’s a normal and integral part of the circadian (sleep-wake cycle) rhythm.
As the day passes, our focus and alertness start fading away even when we’ve had a decent night of sleep. Midday naps are not considered vital now, but there was a time when they may have been a life or death question.
Whether you’re working hard on a project or just doing your job, a quick nap in the afternoon will refresh your memory and sharpen your focus. By a quick nap, we mean not more than 15-20 minutes – it may seem extra short, but believe us, it will make a big difference later. Even big companies such as Google encourage their employees to take these naps as they have been known to improve mental performance. The same was confirmed by several scientific studies.
A study from the University of Colorado Boulder discovered that children who skipped their afternoon nap didn’t display much joy and interest, had a higher level of anxiety, and lower problem solving skills compared to other children who napped regularly. The same goes for adults as well.
Some researchers with Berkeley discovered that adults who practice napping more often strengthen their memory function and learning skills. Napping affects the brain positively and allows it to reboot and refresh.
How long should you nap?
According to experts, 10 to 20 minutes “power nap” is quite enough to refresh your mind and increase your energy and alertness. The sleep isn’t as deep as longer naps which allows you to get right back at your day upon waking.
If you nap for 30 minutes you may deal with a 30 minute grogginess period because you wake up just as your body started entering a deeper stage of sleep. The same can be said if you sleep for an hour, but on the other hand, these 60 minute naps provide an excellent memory boost. The longest naps— lasting about 90 minutes—are recommended for those people who just don’t get enough sleep at night.
Since it’s a complete sleep cycle, it can improve emotional memory and creativity.
There you have it – naps are good for you physical and mental well-being so you should practice them as much as you can. However, be advised that you shouldn’t sacrifice night time sleeping for an afternoon nap, they should be an addition to a good night sleep.
Source: thinkhealthytips
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