The Benefits of Napping

Napping is a pastime you associate with babies and the older generation, but are the benefits of the nap worth adopting in our daily lives? The answer is YES, and don’t feel guilty or lazy for closing your eyes for 20 minutes as the benefits are both mental and physical.

What is a Nap?

A nap is a brief period of time, where you sleep to rejuvenate yourself. There are no hard and fast rules about length of time involved in a nap, however it is normally between 10 – 30 minutes. 30 minutes won’t leave nappers groggy or unable to function.

Early afternoon is the optimum time for napping. This will avoid your nap interfering with a good night’s sleep. The best time for napping is down to the individual and you might find a late morning nap works much better for your sleep schedule.

What is the best napping Environment?

Creating a restful and safe environment for a nap is important. A quiet, dark space that is warm is perfect and for your well-being choose a safe position. If you are lucky enough to have access to a bed that is fantastic, if not ensure you cannot fall from your napping position, to avoid any accidents or strains on your neck and body.

Does Napping Improve Your Memory?

Memory is intrinsically linked to sleep and therefore napping. If you are tired it’s hard to pay attention, and you need to pay attention to remember information.

Having a nap when you are tired will keep you alert and ready to store information.

What’s the science behind napping and memory?

The science of the brain indicates that information, once gained, is stored temporarily in a part of the brain known as the hippocampus, but that there is limited space here, so needs to be emptied to make space for new memories. How does the hippocampus free up space? Sleep or napping causes the neurons in the hippocampus to shrink and eliminate memories you don’t need, like what time you caught the bus last week or whether you had sausages for tea three weeks ago and allows space for the creation of important memories.

Does Napping Reduce Stress?

Studies show napping can improve mood and therefore reduce stress.

Napping blocks feelings of frustration, displeasure and anxiety and a short nap can lead to feeling refreshed and cognitively alert and ready to cope.

Sleep plays a key role in regulating hormones, including stress related hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.

Nap to keep alert!

This seems counter intuitive, however allowing yourself to nap can be beneficial to preceding levels of alertness and there is a reason the term ‘power nap’ exists. As well as being mentally alert, napping can also improve physical abilities and movement.

Ditch the caffeine and adopt the nap!

The Perfect Napping Accessories

A Weighted Blanket

Martex Health & Wellness Weighted Blanket: Giving you the sensation of a comforting hug, this blanket is designed to increase relaxation due to the weighted pressure it applies evenly over your body. Available in 4.5kg, 7kg and 9kg.

A Firm Pillow

The best-selling, VE Non-Allergenic Microfibre Cover, Hollowfibre Pillow is a competitively priced option. It comes in a pack of two and provides firm support and soft comfort, perfect for napping. Its non-allergenic properties provide reassurance depending on napping locations.

Earplugs

Noise can be a distraction to napping. It could be noise from the office, or outdoors, either way, block the sounds by using earplugs or noise cancelling headphones.

In a busy world that is, for most, Monday to Friday, 9 till 5, Napping is not a daily option, and it comes with a side of guilt! However, if your day allows you 20 minutes be sure to snuggle down and enjoy the benefits.

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