PerformaSleep

The Truth About Napping

The Truth About Napping
Babies do it. Dogs do it. Old people love it. But is napping a good or bad habit to have, or is it something that’s better to try to shake? The PerformaSleep team dug into this topic to give you good insight on the best ways to incorporate naps into your life.

Do we need to nap?
The short answer to this is no, adults do not need to take naps. But that does not mean that some napping can be really beneficial and positive (more on that in a minute). The question to ask yourself, however, is why am I feeling the need to nap? If you’re feeling constantly lethargic and run down, an underlying health issue, such as sleep apnea, may be at play. According to a recent article in Men’s Health, if a frequent need to nap is part of your daily routine, or you are taking naps of 60 minutes or more, it’s worth talking to your doctor.

Length Matters
While longer naps can be problematic for productivity, health, and performance, a short nap can be highly beneficial. The key is to lie down for just 20 to 30 minutes. A shorter nap keeps you from dipping into the deep stages of sleep and simultaneously provides rejuvenation to your mental and physical states.

Try Swapping a Nap for a Red Bull
Do a test on yourself to see if you are the type of person that could benefit from a quick midday snooze: Find a nice, cool, quiet place (preferably with a PerformaSleep mattress) and lie down for just 20 minutes instead of grabbing that 3pm coffee or Red Bull. If you wake up easily and feel like you’re ready to take on the rest of the day, you are a perfect nap candidate. If you wake up feeling worse or groggy, naps are not for you.