Benefits of Daytime Napping

Do you take naps? Maybe you should! A good nap can get you out of that afternoon slump, recharge your energy, and leave you more alert and in a better mood.

 

Sleep experts have found that daytime naps can improve many things: increase alertness, boost creativity, reduce stress, improve perception, stamina, motor skills and accuracy, enhance your sex life, aid in weight loss, reduce the risk of heart attack, brighten your mood and boost memory.

 

Taking a long nap may leave a person feeling tired and sluggish. Also, napping too late in the day may make it hard for them to get to sleep at night. In general, the ideal nap is about 20 minutes around the middle of the day.

 

Generally speaking, the longer a nap is, the longer you will feel rejuvenated after waking. Long naps of one to two hours during the afternoon will mean you are less sleepy (and require less sleep) that night. This could mean it will take longer than usual to fall asleep. However, waking during deep sleep will not. Taking an afternoon nap is a tradition in many countries, and they all have a low rate of heart attacks. 

 

Surprising benefits of an afternoon nap:

 

20-minute nap: Enhances mental alertness, memory, and motor learning skills.

20 to 30-minute nap: Boosts your creativity and your memory

30 to 60-minute nap: Powers up your decision-making skills and memory

60 to 90-minute nap: The most beneficial nap type as it ensures REM sleep. It helps you restart your brain, and enhances your problem-solving skills.

Does afternoon nap increase weight?

 

Our bodies are expending energy all the time. It is true to say that had someone gone for a brisk walk rather than, say, taking an afternoon nap, they would have utilized more energy for the duration of the walk. Sleeping itself, however, is not the cause of weight gain.

 

As per the National sleep foundation, napping can be put into three different categories:

Habitual napping is when a person takes a nap at the same time every day.

Emergency napping often helps with sleepy driving or fatigue while using heavy and potentially dangerous work tools.

Planned or ‘Therapy’ napping means going for a nap before you even start feeling sleepy. This method can be used to prevent fatigue and tiredness, or when a person knows that they will have to stay awake for longer than usual.

Naps were found to improve reaction time, logical reasoning, math skills, mood, and even help with fatigue. In addition, napping is great for the heart, weight management, blood pressure regulation, and stress, alertness and more.