Naps Can Do Wonders for Mind and Body
By Tom Herrin
Going fast and furious is a common thing for lots of people today. They often want to stretch themselves as far as possible. This may mean that they will go without sleep for extended periods of time. While this may work a bit, it can begin to wear on the body, including mind, body, and emotions. All is not lost, however, because things can be different if people can take a small measure: take a nap. Even though many see naps as a way of taking it easy, they can be a good part of a plan to build and maintain health. A nap can be part of a good plan.
It May Deter Chronic Illnesses
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who sleep less than six hours per night are at pretty good risk for developing serious diseases. These include diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Without a doubt, the longer this pattern continues, the more serious the impact. A good thing is that once they begin to get an adequate amount of sleep, this situation can change. A nap that is planned may do the trick.
It May Help Relationships
A report from the Journal of Applied Social Psychology indicated that lack of quality sleep can interfere with judgment. It can lessen their self-control and prevent them from acting to suppress prejudices. Relationships may go to pot in a hurry. University of California, Berkeley researchers found that lack of sleep may make arguments with a significant other much more unpleasant. The quick way to change this is to simply take a nap. It can help people to be more tolerant and forgiving of each other.
It May Help Maintain Sanity
When we fail to get enough sleep, we may lose some of our mental capacity. The University of California at Irvine researchers found that lack of sleep may cause increased distortion of reality. They found that some people report seeing objects in pictures that they have only read about. Apparently the information we process becomes confused within our thoughts. I have had that experience and know it can be alarming. The easy way to treat the problem is to take a nap. It may work much more than you may realize. Make naps a part of your everyday practices if you find yourself stretching a bit far. Even a really short one can be great.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Longmont, Colo.