Question
I retired earlier this 12 months and have began to enjoy taking afternoon naps. But is regular sleep good for my health?
Oh The very first thing to think about is whether or not you sleep because you might be sleepy throughout the day. If so, what’s the explanation? For example:
- Do you are taking any medication that makes you sleepy? Review your prescriptions together with your pharmacist or at your next doctor’s visit.
- Are you having trouble sleeping at night? If you sleep well at night and get up refreshed, don’t be concerned. But in case you feel groggy or have a headache early within the morning, you will have insomnia or one other sleep problem.
- Can you be depressed? Ask yourself in case you now not enjoy activities that used to bring you joy and in case you feel low.
If you’re feeling your sleep could also be related to those problems or other health concerns, see your doctor. However, it feels like your nap is voluntary and enjoyable. This probably doesn’t reflect an underlying sleep disturbance. Snooze if it refreshes your day without making it difficult to sleep at night.
For most individuals, going to bed within the early afternoon, when your body experiences a natural circadian dip, is the perfect approach to get a couple of winks without disrupting your sleep-wake cycle. There is not any consensus on how long you must sleep. Some experts recommend that naps should last not more than half-hour. The limit is 60 minutes, as long naps are linked to the next risk of health problems reminiscent of heart disease.
Try to schedule your naps and never wait until you’re feeling sleepy, which can prevent you from sleeping late within the day. Keep your sleeping space dark, cool and freed from distractions. (But there’s nothing unsuitable with a regular couch nap if it’s essentially the most comfortable.) Remember to present yourself 10 minutes after a nap before engaging in mentally or physically demanding tasks.
There remains to be some stigma about taking a nap within the workplace in America, as a consequence of long-standing perceptions of decreased productivity and even laziness. But there may be solid evidence that afternoon naps can improve a employee’s cognitive performance, especially for complex tasks, and stimulate creativity.
When NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration studied the results of naps on pilots, they found that napping improves mental alertness and performance. Many night shift staff reportedly woke up after taking a brief nap of 15 to twenty minutes.
So, enjoy your sleep. Even in case you return to work, maintaining a day nap as a part of your every day routine might be helpful.
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