Why is it that little kids hate having to nap – yet adults would love to be told they need to sleep during the day! Well, here’s some good news: research shows that a short nap, mid-afternoon can boost short-term memory, lift your mood, make you more alert, and ease stress.
Mid-afternoon is the time when many adults experience a post-lunchtime dip in energy. It’s common and occurs whether you've eaten lunch or not. It’s caused by a natural dip in alertness from about 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
Research suggests, a brief, early-to-mid-afternoon nap provides the greatest rejuvenation when compared to naps at any other time of the day. So, if you find yourself fighting off sleep in the middle of the day and you're somewhere where you can have a nap, go for it!
The do’s and don’ts of a successful nap
- Aim to nap for only 10 to 20 minutes – this way you wake up before deep sleep begins. Staying in the lighter stages of sleep helps to prevent the groggy post nap feeling.
- Don’t leave it too late. Napping after 3 p.m. can interfere with night-time sleep.
- Nap in a quiet, dark place with a comfortable room temperature and no distractions.
- If you do experience feeling drowsy when you wake up, don't worry — this feeling is temporary and will go away after a while.
Remember, if you are napping to catch-up on poor quality night-time sleep, always consult your doctor.
Source:
www.abc.net.au
www.mayoclinic.org
www.sleepassociation.org
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