A Quick Snooze Can Be Good for You

Didn’t get enough sleep last night? A nap might be the perfect solution. Check out a few of the health benefits.

  • Recharge. Naps boost alertness and improve motor performance. A 20-minute nap is ideal to enhance motor skills and attention, while an hour to 90 minutes of napping brings Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, which helps make new connections in the brain and can aid in solving creative problems. Set an alarm to make sure you get the right amount of sleep. (Napping for a length of time between 20-90 minutes may also help, but you may feel groggy afterward)
  • Zap stress. Regular, short naps can help lower tension, which decreases your risk of heart disease.
  • Boost your mood. As anyone who has suffered from a sleepless night knows, it’s hard to be chipper the next day. Sneaking in a nap can help erase that sleep-deprived irritability.

Source: National Sleep Foundation