Take an afternoon snooze!
But what makes it a good nap?
And can daytime napping be bad?
To experience the restorative benefits of napping, it’s possible for you to precisely time your shuteye.
Sleeping vs. Napping Is There a Difference?
Weve all been there.
You plan to take a couple of minutes of shuteye that quickly turns into hours long of dozing.
And that right there is the fine line between napping and sleeping the timing!
Naps are usually short and are only meant to give you a temporary recharge.
Meanwhile, you take a couple of hours to sleep, which should give you a complete reset.
And besides the duration, the two also differ in sleep cycles.Four stages of sleephappen sequentially.
Meanwhile, true and complete sleep comes up whenever you reach the deep sleep and REM stages.
During these last two stages, your body feels the most impactful restoration.
Is Napping Good for You?
Ever wonder if you should include napping in your daily schedule?
And naps arent just for children!
So, what exactly do you get from a good midday snooze session?
But unlike the rejuvenating effects from caffeine, taking a nap benefits the entire body.
Meaning you increase alertness after a good nap, and you alsoincrease your memory recall.
And one of the common reasons for lack of sleep in many people is constant stress and tension.
By squeezing in a good nap time midday, you’re free to effectively minimize your stress levels.
The best thing about napping is it boosts your overall cognitive skills.
And they got a 100% boost in alertness after napping too!
You dont have to be a military pilot or an astronaut for that.
You get the moral lesson napping can improve your cognitive function.
After all, tiredness usually comes with irritability.
So, if you spend several minutes recharging, you reduce your stress and effectively turn your mood around.
Its better for you and everyone around you!
The same goes for napping.
As weve previously pointed out timing is everything when it comes to taking naps.
So, while some people find advantages from napping, others find it counterproductive.
In fact, there are different kinds of naps that provide you with different benefits.
So, choosing a good nap essentially depends on what you aim for from your midday snooze.
Another thing to understand is the sequence of sleep stages.
And with all of that said, lets take a look at the best nap times!
It is because a 1020-minute nap doesnt yet reach the deeper stages of the sleep cycle.
And since youre waking up after REM sleep and not the deep sleep stage, you avoid sleep inertia.
Average Nap Time 60-Minute Naps
A 60-minute nap has a few benefits but also downsides.
Meaning youll bewaking up feeling tired and groggy, at least for the first 15 minutes.
And in terms of benefits, taking an hour-long nap can improve cognitive memory processing.
Entering deep sleep helps when it comes to memory.
You dont really get anything from it.
And waking up after a half-hour nap usually just makes you feel a bit groggy.
Its what you call sleep inertia, which can usually last for 30 minutes after waking up.
Sleep inertia happens because your body has already entered deeper sleep.
When Is the Best Time for Napping?
Besides planning your ideal nap length, its also important to consider the optimal times for napping.
So, what is the best time to nap?
The ideal time to nap depends on your sleep schedule, really.
Ready for a Nap?
Napping Tips to Fall Asleep Fast During the Day
Mastering the art of napping is not easy.
It takes a bit of know-how and plenty of practice.
But with all the benefits of a good nap, its worth it adding to your daily routine.
And these napping tups can help you optimize your nap time!
Final Thoughts How Long Should I Nap?
Now that you know the many reasons why napping is a friend (not a foe!)
Of course, taking an afternoon nap doesnt come easy for everyone.
And its also worth noting that napping during the day is not an answer if you are sleep-deprived.
It cannot replace your regular nighttime sleep needs.
Its still important to get a complete good nights sleep to wake up refreshed and energized in the morning.
So, happy napping!
