The Joy of Napping

My name is Chantelle. I am a 28 year old woman, and I love to nap.

Ever since I can remember, my Dad has taken an afternoon nap. I began to follow in his footsteps when I was about 16, due to teenage lethargy, and I haven’t looked back. Even now, as an adult, naps are an essential part of (most) of my days.

I honestly believe that a good 30 minute kip on the sofa can cure almost anything. After a long day of work I crave the peace, rest and calm of a solitary nap under a warm blanket. A nap is my mini-holiday in the late afternoon, a perfect escape from the business of the day and an interlude before the leisure (or more often, work) of the evening begins!

And what’s more, naps are scientifically proven to be good for you. A recent study conducted by NASA on sleepy military pilots and astronauts found that a 40-minute nap improved performance by 34 percent and alertness 100 percent. Now, I very rarely have to fly a plane or a rocket, but if I ever do, I’ll know to take a quick disco (or space) nap prior to take-off—albeit, sleep deprivation being the least of my passengers concerns!

I’m aware there are some indications that can cause problems with normal sleeping patterns, particularly for insomniacs, but this is extremely personal and depends on your work schedule, habits and ability to fall asleep. For me this has never been a problem, and the benefits far outweigh the risk…

Sara Mednick, PhD, a sleep medicine researcher at the University of California agrees!

So, here are 10 excellent, PhD approved reasons to take a nap today, as if you needed an excuse…

1. Sharpen your thinking so you make more accurate judgments and better decisions.
2. Regenerate skin cells so you look younger.
3. Increase your sex drive.
4. Help you lose weight by altering metabolism and shifting chemicals that affect appetite.
5. Lift your mood by bathing your brain in the neurotransmitter serotonin.
6. Speed up your ability to perform motor tasks, like typing or operating machinery.
7. Improve the way your body processes carbs, which reduces your risk of diabetes.
8. Sharpen your senses so you take in what’s important in your environment.
9. Put your brain into its creative gear so you can come up with fresh ideas.
10. Boost your ability to learn something new and, better yet, remember it.

There are, unfortunately, a number of unhelpful stigmas around the concept of napping, despite its proven health and psychological benefits. Many perceive naps to be an indication of laziness or a lack of ambition, whilst others consider naps only appropriate for children, the sick and the elderly.

But riddle me this… if something is nurturing and restorative enough to be good for these vulnerable types of people, surely it can be a positive addition to an average adults day too?

“I love a good nap. Sometimes it’s the only thing getting me out of bed in the morning.”

—George Costanza