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Its common knowledge that getting enough sleep is important for your overall wellbeing.
But thats where an early afternoon nap could help.
Weve also included some tips on how to master the art of a good nap.
Why do people struggle to sleep in January?
Decrease symptoms of sleep deprivation
Healthy adults generally need around 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep.
But, according toresearch, more than 35 percent of Americans dont hit this target and experiencesleep deprivation.
brain fog, irritability, and difficulty concentrating), Murray tells us.
A short nap can restore alertness, improve cognitive performance, and take the edge off daytime fatigue.
And theresresearchto back this up.
In the 2018 article, researchers said that a bout of mid-day sleep minimizes sleepiness while enhancing executive functioning.
When stressed,researchshows that our sleep quality and quantity can deteriorate.
This is due in part to elevations in blood pressure.
How to nap properly
That said, not all naps are created equal.
The adultsleep cyclelasts around 90 to 110 minutes and has four stages.
Rapid eye movement (REM) is the dream sleep stage.
A 20-minute nap might not be enough time to enter Stage 3 or REM sleep.
But, as Dr Browning highlights, thats why short naps are key.
And try not to sleep any later than 3pm, she notes.
If outside daytime noise is an issue, consider using earplugs or white noise.
