Naps might be frowned upon especially in workplaces but they are actually good for you. With naps, you can get extra sleep which reduces stress, boosts your memory, boosts your libido and gives a feeling of wholeness altogether. If you are skeptical about naps, here are some of their benefits that should help you change your mind.
Avoid Sleep Deprivation
You are supposed to sleep for at least 7 to 8 hours every night. Most people don’t reach this timeline. If you are sleep deprived, napping is a great way to reduce the sleep debt. Even a few minutes of a power nap can help you feel refreshed and rejuvenated for the entire day.
- Improves Your Memory
Do you often have a hard time remembering things? Well, if you take a nap immediately after learning something, you can improve your memory. Researchers have revealed that when you take a nap, your brain goes into a tranquil state that improves your memory.
- Balancing Your Hormones
A nap can take about 15 to 20 minutes and leave you feeling refreshed. That’s because the chemicals in your brain will rebalance when you sleep. When you wake up from a nap, you will feel more alert and rejuvenated so it’s good for you.
Keeping Fit
If you are sleep deprived, you are more likely to gain weight, according to researchers. That’s because lack of sleep triggers your body to produce gherkin, a hormone that forces you to eat more. It also reduces the levels of leption, a hormone that alerts you when you are satisfied. Therefore, you should take naps to avoid pigging out.
- Keeping Stress At Bay
Stress is responsible for high blood pressure and is often linked to stroke, heart disease and even erectile dysfunction. Well, a good nap can help you reduce anxiety and other stress related conditions. You can take a few minutes off your busy day to nap and improve your heart’s ability to recover from stress thus reducing your blood pressure accordingly.
- Improve Your Social Relationships
Are you always fighting with your significant other? Well, your sleeping habits might be a huge contributor to your relationship issues. Without proper sleep, you might be misinterpreting your partner’s emotions and might end up cranky the whole day. Take a nap and you might find that you have been fighting over nothing all along.
Allows Your Body To Recover
Do you often go for long shifts at work? Do you have a hard time getting enough sleep? Well, your body is bound to feel worn out because of this. Eventually, you might start feeling a little sick. You need to organize some time off your schedule to catch a few naps. You can reset your hormone levels and reduce stress feeling rejuvenated all through.
- Protects Your Heart
Bad sleeping habits can make your blood vessels become less flexible. Eventually, you will be vulnerable to a few heart conditions that might kill you. When your brain is exhausted, it signals your blood vessels to become unresponsive and stiff. However, if you get enough rest you can reset these problems and protect your heart from any further problems.
Improves Your Focus And Concentration
If you are spending more time awake, you are bound to become more sluggish. Well, you can avoid this by taking a few naps whenever you get the time. If you are feeling more sluggish in the afternoon, try taking a power nap and wake up more alert. Whether you have an afternoon class or a busy day at work, a nap should boost your focus and concentration and improve your productivity.
