Be a nap star
Enjoying a siesta can improve your mood and energy levels – but only if you sleep like a pro
There are only so many hours in the day, but you should use yours efficiently by taking a nap. Yep, that’s right. Sleeping in the afternoon is far from lazy – it’s smart.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, a daytime doze can increase productivity and rejuvenate you. Consider it an interval, allowing you to put on a fab finale. Dr Verena
Senn, neurobiologist and head of sleep research at Emma – The Sleep Company, is a big fan of naps, too.
She says, “Research has shown that taking naps help to ‘reboot’ your brain by allowing your body to enter the early, restorative stages of sleep.
“This improves your memory, learning, reaction time and logistical reasoning. It also lets you approach the rest of your day from a fresh perspective. In fact, naps are so effective that even athletes such as Usain Bolt praise them. He’s been known to take regular naps in the hours leading up to competitions, including before his world recordbreaking 100m in 2009.”
Dr Senn adds, “Western nations are predominantly set to a monophasic sleep schedule, which means all our sleep comes in one sitting.”
However, some companies, such as Google, have office nap pods for staff, while Ben & Jerry’s provides nap rooms. And with more of us working from home, it’s easier than ever to adopt an afternoon kip.
So, how exactly do you ensure you go about it the right way?
Over to Dr Senn…
RULE 2:
Nap early-mid afternoon only
“Most studies tell us that nap-times are best kept in the early and mid-afternoon, which is when you are most likely to experience a natural decline in your energy and alertness.
“If your naps take you into the later part of the afternoon, you run the risk of impacting the sleep you would usually get at night. Oversleeping during the day can make it much more difficult to rest at night.”