You’ve probably heard about countries like Spain where napping, or siesta, is part of their daily routine and wondered why they take naps in the first place. Napping, when done right, has been found to provide numerous health benefits to your overall health. Most people nowadays are not getting enough sleep with all the work that we are doing that our body is not getting enough rest because of it. If you find yourself nodding off to sleep while at school or when you are at work, you might want to consider taking a nap. Here are the benefits of taking a power nap in the afternoon.
Improve heart health
Since we are missing out on our much-needed sleep at times, we are at risk of shortening our life span. However, studies show that those who take naps regularly are less likely to suffer from heart problems because there is less pressure on the heart. You should take at least three naps in a week around half an hour.
Increases alertness
It is understandable that you’re feeling groggy especially when you missed out on sleep the night before. Unfortunately, this can affect your ability to stay alert throughout the day which can affect your performance at school or at work even. Taking a nap, on the other hand, can help increase your level of alertness directly after your nap which can give you that extra boost to your day.
Combats cravings
Another benefit that is linked to napping is that it can help fight food cravings. You’ve probably noticed that when you are missing out on sleep, your body seeks food for fuel. Unfortunately, this can lead to eating randomly which can be dangerous to your health since it can lead to weight gain and other health issues. Napping, on the other hand, can help curb your hunger as you are refueling your body with sleep. Sleeping 10 to 15 minutes can restore your will power to avoid foods that are harmful to your health. Another thing that happens when you sleep is that you can reduce your stress hormones when you nap which can also prevent food indulgence on your part.
Provides rest and relaxation
What other benefits can you get from napping? It is one of the easiest ways for you to go into a relaxed state especially when you are feeling stressed out. Taking a few minutes of sleep during lunch break or in the afternoon can make you feel better afterwards. Even the idea of slipping into your bed and getting 20 to 30 minutes of sleep already makes you feel relaxed.
Reduce anxiety and stress
Like it was mentioned before, napping can help reduce your stress levels which can protect you from various health issues. Resting for a few minutes can also be beneficial to you in the long run since it can alleviate your anxiety too.
Enhances cognitive function
Another benefit that is linked to napping is that it can actually enhance your cognitive function. We all know that sleep plays a part on your cognitive function but did you know that naps can help too? Doing naps can help your brain to access, break down, and absorb information that you have received so that it will be easier for your mind to access memories and details as needed.
With all these benefits in mind, it’s surprising why we aren’t doing much of it lately. New mothers who are missing out on sleep should take naps when they can to help with their ability to care for their babies. Napping can be beneficial to you in the long run. You just need to know how and how long to reap its benefits.
