10 REASONS TO... TAKE A NAP

1 IT HELPS YOUR MEMORY

Taking a short nap of between 30 and 40 minutes helps us get over that early afternoon energy slump – what scientists call the postprandial dip. Researchers at Pennsylvania University in the United States found that it boosted memory skills and made the brain perform as if it were five years younger.

2 A TONIC FOR THE HEART

While you snooze, you are also giving your heart a health tonic. That’s because napping can reduce high blood pressure – a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. However, sleeping for too long – 90 minutes or more – could have the opposite effect. Greek scientists found that those who enjoyed the short nap had lower blood pressure than those who stayed awake throughout the day.

3 IT REBOOTS THE BRAIN

The brain tires easily when faced with complex issues, so a snooze could be key. Scientists in Singapore found that getting 40 winks before an exam was as good as revising.

4 CUTS DIABETES RISK

Short naps seem to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Tokyo University researchers found a quick snooze halted hormonal changes that could lead to the condition. But napping for longer appears to make things worse.

5 IT CHEERS YOU UP…

A snooze can even help tackle depression. Scientists already knew that toddlers denied their regular afternoon sleep grew into grumpier adults. But a 2012 German study also found that patients with severe depression saw their mood ratings improve if they snoozed between 2pm and 3.30pm. Scientists said: ‘This study suggests depressive patients benefit from daytime naps.’

6 … AND FIGHTS VIRUSES

French scientists tested 11 healthy young men and found a daytime sleep kept their immune systems in good working order, especially if they were already sleep-deprived. Studies showed it prevented a decline in interleukin-6, a disease-fighting molecule that helps to destroy invading viruses.

7 IT REDUCES ACCIDENTS

One in six accidents on Britain’s roads is thought to be fatigue-related. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents says many could be avoided if tired drivers pulled over for a brief 15-minute nap. Nasa tests on military pilots and astronauts found a 40-minute nap improved performance by 34 per cent and alertness by 100 per cent.

8 MAKES YOU SMART

There’s a reason why we use the expression ‘sleep on it’. Research shows that resting the brain triggers a burst of activity in the right hemisphere, the side of the brain most strongly linked to creativity. Tests show that people perform better at solving creative word problems if they have napped.

9 IT’S A GOOD STRESS-BUSTER

The US National Sleep Foundation describes a nap as a ‘mini-holiday’. It can alleviate stress and helps us cope with everyday problems. Even a short snooze can ease the burden.

10 IT KEEPS YOU SLIM

One of the best ways to fight the flab may be to lie down in the afternoon. A study of 10,000 people across the Mediterranean found that those sleeping after lunch for about 30 minutes were a third less likely to become obese than those staying awake all day.