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Your kids take one. College students take them in the library during finals weeks. Why not working adults? Studies have shown that "power napping" can reduce stress, increase learning and efficiency, and better your overall health.
Before I made a career change, which changed my schedule and allowed me to have more free time, I would always be exhausted. I found, that no matter how much coffee I drank, or how healthy I was, I was always sleepy at around three in the afternoon. Well, I was working at three in the afternoon, so napping was out of the question. And I was always convinced that napping wasn't really all that great for you. Perhaps I believed that if I napped in the middle of the day, I wouldn't be able to sleep that night. Or maybe I just thought that only lazy people napped in the middle of the day.
Whatever I thought, I was wrong. With a flexible schedule these days, when I feel tired, I listen to my body, and take a nap, usually around three o'clock. I have found that with napping in the middle of the day, my stress levels are much lower, I'm happier, and more energized in my daily activities. My mind is not pushing itself to keep going, and I feel better, healthier, and more productive. Here are some benefits, and tips, of letting yourself rest in the middle of the day.
1) About eight hours after you wake up in the morning, studies have shown that we all, or most of us, begin to feel drained. It seems our bodies were designed for this mid day power nap. Don't fight it!
2) Avoid taking naps that are longer than thirty minutes. Sleeping longer takes us into a deeper sleep, and waking up becomes more difficult, making you feel groggy rather than energized.
3) Napping reduces stress hormones in your body, allowing you to feel more relaxed and refreshed.
4) Napping increases alertness, productivity, and stamina for the rest of your day. In fact, a twenty minute nap about eight hours into your day, is more effective than an extra twenty minutes of sleep in the morning!
5) College students and Kindergartners have the right idea! Taking a cat nap can improve memory and your capacity to learn new tasks!
6) Studies have shown that napping decreases your risk of heart disease! In fact, countries that are known to take siestas tend to have lower levels of heart disease.
7) Too tired to get yourself to the gym? Napping, resulting in feeling more rested, helps get you motivated to take that jog, or head to the gym, which in turn keeps your body even more healthy and fit!
So go ahead! Siesta, and never feel guilty about it! Your body needs it!
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