Why Napping is the Bombdiggity

FORTHELOVEOFGOD, PEOPLE, go take a nap if you need to. I can’t stand watching people/animals nodding off. It makes me so sad because I know how it feels to want more than anything to just go to bed. My sister does it ALL the time. It’s like she wants to torture me. Just trying to find a good video for this post of an animal falling asleep was like torture. I found one for you people anyways. It’s cute, yes, but it’s also quite painful. Or..is that just how I feel?

I’m so in love with naps–it’s not even funny. In college they were more of a necessity to function. Now I consider them a luxury because I don’t necessarily need them–I just like them. Learning about why they’re good for me definitely puts them in the group of studies I love to hear about.

Check out some info I’ve found on why napping is the bombdiggity and why you should stop nodding off and just take the plunge…into bed.

Best amount of time: 15-45 minutes. The longer you nap, the greater the chance that you’ll feel groggy. HOWEVER, even if you don’t have enough time for a nap or can’t fall asleep, you’ll still experience some perks of napping just be resting. I have a problem with taking 3+ hour naps, when I have the time. It feels so wrong to break the blissful state.

Best time of day: the afternoon. You’ve been up for awhile, are often sleepy, and bedtime is still a ways away so it shouldn’t interfere. About 1:34pm is my favorite time to nap.

The benefits: the all-knowing Google tells me that napping can result in the following for you:

• Reduced stress levels through relaxation. If you’re not getting enough sleep at night, you may feel stressed more easily. Napping can help make up for it.
• Increased alertness and productivity. It makes sense—if you’re more awake during the day, you’ll get more done. It improves your memory and also your performance.
• Lower blood pressure. While we sleep our blood pressure and heart rate decreases. With a mid-afternoon nap, we can keep our blood pressure in check.
• Reduced fatigue. When you start feeling drained, it might be a good idea to take a quick power nap to refresh your mind. I know I always feel rejuvenated afterwards.

How does coffee compare?

Napping > Coffee: With coffee you may feel wired, but it’s been shown that you’re more likely to make mistakes than if you had napped instead. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some coffee, but nothing beats a nap, when it  comes to waking up. They help you focus better and also boost performance. But just because coffee is a good time…

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Overall, we do what we can. If there’s no chance of a nap, caffeine is what we turn to. But with our sleep-deprived culture, an extra 20 minutes of napping bliss will definitely do the body and mind some good.

I find now that I’ve been challenging myself more with running, I get sleepier earlier in the day. All I can say is thank God I have the ability and time to take naps lately. If you find yourself extra sleepy like me, please stop fighting it and just go nap.

Thank you and goodnight.