We’ve all taken a nap when we’ve felt sleepy or tired. It is a way to relax and power through for the rest of the day. However, sleeping at the wrong time or for too long can backfire and ruin your day instead.
So, Is napping healthy or not? Will it ruin your sleep schedule, or will it help you perform better?
Many people are unable to catch the required amount of sleep every night. As a result, it makes them feel tired and unable to concentrate on their work. Napping can help you work better and be more attentive just by taking a small relaxing break. If you have a troubled night sleep schedule and miss out on your 8-hour sleep, a nap can help freshen you up and make you feel rejuvenated.
Benefits of taking a nap:
Increased attentiveness: A study by NASA confirmed that taking a 40-minute nap can boost your alertness by 100%. If you’re too tired from the day’s events or lack sleep from the past day, napping is the perfect solution. It will give you much needed time away from work, help you relax and you’ll be much more productive after it.
Improved mood: Lack of sleep can ruin someone’s mood and day. It is disturbing for work and other activities as well. Taking a small nap will freshen you up and relax you.
Heightened senses: Studies have shown a good nap is equal to a cup of coffee. It boosts your memory and performance. A 60-80 minute nap can be as good and beneficial for your body as a night’s rest. Not that nap is enough for your body, and nighttime sleep is still the most crucial time for you to rest. Napping can be a bonus for you.
Drawbacks of napping:
With its many benefits, napping can also be counterproductive. Many people are unable to sleep during the day or aren’t in suitable places for it. Many people are unable to sleep anywhere but in their beds.
Sleep inertia: If you oversleep during the day, napping can lessen your productivity and quality of the day. You will feel drowsy, confused and disoriented after a long daytime nap.
Sleep schedule off-balance: Many people do not do well with sleep cycle changes; sleeping during the day isn’t for everyone and can ruin your nighttime sleep quality. People can have trouble falling asleep at reasonable times during the night. Prolonged and frequent naps can worsen your day, ruin your sleep schedule and decrease your productivity.
When should you nap?
The best time for a nap is any time you’re feeling tired or sleepy.
If you have a long work shift and need to power through for that, taking a power nap before will help increase your work performance for long hours.
Take naps for only 10-50 minutes. Any more than that will be the opposite of what you were aiming for. Keep your naps earlier in the day; sleeping after three can affect your nighttime sleep. Also, keep an eye on your work and sleep balance. If you’re feeling overworked, it is better to take a relaxing break. The benefits or drawbacks of napping mostly depend on person to person and the amount of sleep you get.
