Are you feeling the effects of the midday slump? Well, then, it might be time for a quick nap! Catching a few z’s midday can have some major benefits, so forget the caffeine fix, and opt for a nap instead.
Our bodies have an inner clock, known as the circadian rhythm, that regulates certain body functions, such as our heart rate and body temperature. This natural regulator sends us signals when we need to rest at night, but it also occurs approximately eight hours after waking in the morning, right around the time many people feel the effects of the so-called midday slump! The effects of midday fatigue can be numerous, but a short 20- to 30-minute nap might just be the optimum fix. Here are some of the reasons a nap can benefit you.
Increases your productivity
How often have you or a colleague uttered the phrase, “I’m just too tired to think!”? There is a certain amount of truth to that, as a lack of sleep or the feeling of being tired can negatively affect our thought processes and be detrimental to our work or personal performance. A short sleep can zap those feelings of fatigue and get a person back on track.
Boosts your brain power
Two problems fatigue can cause are an inability to process information properly and a reduced capacity for short-term memory. Both these problems can be helped by having an adequate amount of sleep per day, including taking a catnap when needed. So consider boosting your brain power to harness the full potential of your mind by getting some shut-eye midday.
Restores your alertness
Remaining alert is vital to your safety as well as the safety of others. Clear judgment and a quick reaction time are two factors that contribute to a safe, accident-free life. But a tired person is prone to displays of poor judgment and a lack of reaction time. To keep yourself fully awake, alert and ready to take on life’s challenges, take the initiative by catching a few z’s in the afternoon.
Improves your overall mood
While a person can’t necessarily blame all their emotional ups and downs on being tired, a fatigued person is more apt to be moody, impatient and less than jovial. A short nap in the afternoon can help restore a person’s positive mood and kick feelings of grumpiness or overall malaise to the curb. Be sure to keep nap time to approximately 20–30 minutes, or you’ll enter a deeper sleep cycle that may be difficult to wake from and potentially cause stress and affect your mood.
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