Why You Should Consider Napping
By Sara Butler
From time to time, just lying down under a comfy blanket and taking a nap sounds like the best thing in the world. Do you give into the temptation to take a nap? Well, you probably should! Even just a short power nap of 10 to 15 minutes can have a positive impact on your alertness, performance, and reaction time. Here are a few more reasons you might want to consider giving in to the call of the nap!
It’s Better than Caffeine
An afternoon slump is no fun. Instead of reaching for the caffeine, you may want to consider a nap. The Journal of Sleep Research published a study that found a 20-minute nap to be better than caffeine for getting over an energy slump in the afternoon.
Coffee just can’t compare to a short nap when it comes to refreshment. Caffeine decreases memory and increases the chance you’ll make mistakes in the afternoon. It’s just not a good substitute for what your body really wants – a nap!
It’s Good for Heart Health
A midday nap can help to lower blood pressure, reducing your risk of heart disease. In fact, according to some research out of Europe, the longer the nap, the more positive impact on the heart and arteries. So, next time you’re wondering if a nap is really a good idea, do it for your heart!
It Helps with Athletic Performance
Exhaustion can leave you feeling sluggish – too tired to go to the gym like you promised yourself you would that morning! Well, not exercising will only make your fatigue worse in the long run, so make sure you get the gym – right after your nap. It’ll help your training once you’re there, too!
It Improves Creativity
The stage of sleep associated with dreaming, called REM sleep, boosts creative problem-solving skills. Even just periods of quiet rest without falling asleep help people to approach problem-solving more creatively. So, the next time you feel stuck, consider taking a snooze to boost short-term memory and increase your ability to absorb new information.
So what makes the perfect nap? You should aim to sleep for fewer than 20 minutes and definitely less than 60. That will ensure you stay in the shallow stages of sleep rather than deeper sleep, which means you’ll feel refreshed when you wake up and not groggy.
So the next time you need a pick-me-up, try a nap and see how it helps your day!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Fort Worth, Tex.
