THE PERFECT TIME OF THE DAY TO HAVE NAP
Power
napping is undoubtedly a skill.
Not
all of us are able to drop off for 30 minutes in the middle of the day, even
when we’re exhausted. But those of us who can nap reap considerable benefits to
their health, productivity and brain power.
And
it turns out there’s actually a perfect time of day to grab some quick
shut-eye: 3pm.
The
reason for this comes down to our circadian rhythm, which dips around 3pm. Many
people also experience post-lunch sleepiness or a lack of alertness, making it
the perfect time to nap.
You
should aim to nap for 20 to 30 minutes - any longer and you risk falling into a
deep sleep which could actually leave you feeling groggy for an hour after
waking up. This is known as sleep inertia.
And
although a nap can be particularly valuable if you didn’t get enough sleep the
night before, napping for too long could make it harder to sleep that night.
According
to the latest report by the Sleep Council, almost three-quarters of Brits get
less than seven hours’ sleep a night.
What’s
more, the number of people who get less than five hours’ a night has grown from
seven per cent to 12 percent?
When
you’re sleep deprived, only bad things happen to your mood, concentration,
health, and immune system,” Rajkumar Dasgupta, an assistant professor of clinical
medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern
California, explained to Tonic.
“It’s
not good to be sleep deprived.”
But with more
and more of us not getting enough sleep at night, naps could take on increasing
value.
Studies have
proven that napping provides significant health benefits and can actually
counter the effects of sleep deprivation.
After napping,
people are more alert, creative, have better memory skills and are better at
learning. You’re also less likely to make mistakes and have accidents.
And let’s not
forget that people often wake up from a nap feeling refreshed and
rejuvenated.
But if you
don’t work at a company like Google or Uber (who encourage napping), you may
have to convince your boss before you curl up under your desk
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