Although seniors often take naps in the afternoon, it is now evident that most adults can benefit from. Taking a nap can refresh you, help you focus, and feel more energetic.
If you are someone who does not sleep well at night, getting a nap in the early afternoon can help you overcome daytime sleepiness. There is a natural tendency for most people to start feeling tired in the afternoon hours.
In some warmer climates, people commonly take naps in the afternoon. The sun is too hot for them to work, so they take advantage of it by getting some shuteye.
General Benefits of a Nap
Getting a nap in the middle of the afternoon has several benefits. Being more alert is one of the advantages of taking naps, and it will pay off when you need to pay attention to your work or while you are driving.
A nap can also give you better recall. Getting some afternoon sleep time can help you remember what you learned earlier in the day, making it beneficial for students.
Energy levels also increase after a nap. It gives your body time to recharge, enabling you to feel more energetic and ready to take on the necessary tasks.
A nap also refreshes your creative ability. It will help you put things together that you learned previously and see things you might not notice if you are tired.
An afternoon nap can also enhance physical performance. After a 20-minute nap, athletes performed better than those who either did not take a nap or took a longer one.
Napping can also help to regulate emotions. Getting an afternoon nap gives the brain more serotonin, giving people a more positive feeling. At the same time, it can help reduce stress, impulsiveness, frustration, and anxiety.
Health Benefits of a Nap
Doctors have found that there are also some health benefits of taking a nap. Because a nap can reduce stress, it lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease, which also lowers your risk of dying from heart conditions.
Brief naps can also strengthen your immune system. Not getting enough sleep promotes the development of more stress hormones, which increases your risk of inflammation. A nap can reduce stress and improve your immune system’s effectiveness.
A lack of sleep throughout the week will take a toll on the body. The effect is cumulative. You will want to eat more, which can lead to weight gain.
Financial Benefits of a Nap
Think also of the money you will save if you spend less on coffee and sweets to stay awake. A nap can also benefit you with better weight control because you will not need as much sugar to keep awake.
Tips for Getting Better Naps
There is no minimum time limit to benefit from a nap or a maximum. You can benefit from a 15-minute nap or one a little longer. Researchers think that a 30-minute nap may be the ideal length. Taking one longer than that may make it difficult to fall asleep at bedtime. If you regularly use a CPAP machine, use it during your naps.
Long naps in the day can have some adverse effects unless you have trouble sleeping at night. Taking naps longer than 90 minutes increases your risk of heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, and a decline in cognitive performance.
Taking a short nap in the afternoon has a lot of benefits, including increasing your longevity. Find a place that is a little cooler, quiet, and dark. Keep it short, because REM sleep will cause you to wake up groggy.