Have you ever heard someone say they love power naps? I’ve heard it many times. There’s nothing like a short afternoon or evening power nap when you’re feeling a little sleepy right?
Well, there’s a reason so many people swear by them.
According to the latest research, taking a quick power nap in the middle of the day can indeed have several benefits for your mind, including enhancing memory, cognition, and mood, according to scientists.
Despite some cultural stigmas attached to napping in certain societies, there is a growing recognition that the quality and duration of sleep are vital for public health. In fact, recent studies have shed light on the importance of the type and duration of power naps.
It appears that a nap lasting between 20 to 30 minutes is considered the optimal duration.
Short naps, such as those in the aforementioned range, have been found to significantly improve memory, information-processing speed, and vigilance.
Even a brief 10-minute power nap can provide a refreshing boost, and if you extend your nap slightly longer, the cognitive benefits tend to last for a more extended period.
However, if you’re not confident your internal clock will wake you up in 30 minutes, you might want to set your alarm for backup. Napping for durations beyond 30 minutes can lead to grogginess upon waking and may be associated with certain health problems, including obesity and high blood pressure. Therefore, it’s essential to strike a balance and aim for short, rejuvenating power naps to reap the cognitive benefits without experiencing the drawbacks associated with longer naps.
The urge to take a nap is influenced by two key physiological processes: homeostatic sleep pressure, which increases the longer you stay awake, and circadian rhythms, which naturally induce drowsiness in the afternoon.
Read more at Scientific American.
