You snooze, you… win? According to a number of health experts, napping is definitely healthy and it’s not just for little tykes. If you plan your naps carefully, you can reap physical and mental health benefits.
- They help us stay alert. Considering that Americans are notoriously sleep-deprived (the CDC claims more than one third of Americans don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis), a planned or regular short nap can help improve performance and reduce errors and accidents, especially if you work as a pilot or in a similar field. You probably also know about drowsy driving which can have similar effects of driving drunk. Pulling over for a 20-minute nap can save you (and others) from a potentially fatal crash. And if you can somehow snatch a quick post-lunch nap, you’ll be refreshed and awake for any later afternoon work or meetings.
- It relaxes you. Think of the warm, contented feeling you get as you drift off to sleep. When you nap, you give your body and mind much-needed rest and allow both to recuperate a bit from the everyday stresses and strains you put them through. You’ll also improve your mood after having allowed yourself to recharge your batteries. Plus “[r]egular, short naps can help lower tension, which decreases your risk of heart disease.”
- Take care to maximize your time. The idea of a nice nap may appeal, but take care as to when and for how long you do it. If you want to improve your attention, take a 20-minute snooze. A 60-90-minute nap gets you into REM sleep, which allows your brain to make new connections. Too long a nap can actually make you feel groggy and disoriented or not allow you to fall asleep at night. Even a 40-minute nap can put you in between the lighter and deeper stages of sleep, so stick to either 10-20 minutes or an hour. Set an alarm to ensure you sleep for just as much time as you need.
If you feel sleep-deprived during the day or know you have a big night coming up, work a nap into your schedule. Your body and mind will thank you for getting some extra Zs. Read our related health and wellness tips or reach out to our experienced recruiters at Medical Professionals for career tips today!
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