Why Everyone Should Experience the Benefits of Napping

After a long day of work or studying at school, laying down for a quick nap sounds great. You may decide to push through your sleepiness if you have a busy schedule, but that isn’t always the best move for your health. Read about the many benefits of napping and you’ll never want to skip a chance to rest again. There are many reasons why a bit of sleep is great for your well-being, even if it’s only for a few minutes.

Is It Healthy to Nap Every Day?

When you have a technical problem with your phone or computer, restarting the device can solve the problem. Naps do the same thing for people. When your mind settles down to sleep, your body gets a chance to reset vital bodily functions and restore your energy.

Napping two or three times each week is essential for your health. You’ll get many of the benefits of napping that you’re about to read, which is why students are petitioning for nap stations at libraries and employees want nap breaks at work. You’ll wake up refreshed and move through your responsibilities with ease.

How Long Should Naps Be?

You may have woken up from previous naps feeling more groggy than before. Avoiding that uncomfortable feeling depends on how you time your naps. If you rest for longer than 30-90 minutes, your body enters the REM sleep stage — also known as deep sleep. Waking up during that cycle creates grogginess. Napping for less than 30 minutes will be the ideal plan if you don’t have a few hours for your body to go through an entire sleep cycle naturally.

Are There Different Types of Naps?

There are a few different types of naps with varying benefits. Read about what makes them so helpful and when you should try each one.

Fulfillment Naps

Kids need to sleep more often than adults because they grow so quickly. Fulfillment naps occur whenever they fall asleep during scheduled or spontaneous rest periods, like in their car seat or in front of the TV.

Recovery Naps

When you can’t sleep during the night, you will likely benefit from a recovery nap the following day. They’re an excellent way to cope with lasting insomnia because your body still gets a chance to reset and recharge.

Essential Naps

Your body will burn through more energy when it battles a virus. Take an essential nap whenever your immune system needs a boost to help yourself recover faster.

Appetitive Naps

Laying down for a quick nap just because you want to is an appetitive sleep method. The point is to relax and wake up feeling refreshed, no matter how you feel or what you’re dealing with surrounding your nap.

Prophylactic Naps

Although you can learn how to sleep better if you start working a night shift, prophylactic naps can help you through the adjustment period. They prepare your body for an extended period of being awake during a time when you’d normally be asleep.

What Are the Benefits of Napping?

Now that you know about the types of naps and how they can serve your wellness goals, check out why health experts recommend them.

You’ll Eliminate Exhaustion

When your nap begins, your body can move through a sleep cycle and reset itself. You’ll eliminate your fatigue by letting your mind rest, like plugging in your phone during the middle of the day.

You’ll Remember Things Better

It’s more difficult for your mind to remember new information or memories when it’s struggling to keep up. A recent study found that students performed better on tests after napping for 30 minutes after classes. You’ll have the mental strength and endurance to record new memories if your body gets enough rest.

You’ll Feel Emotionally Settled

If you’re struggling through a difficult time, napping can assist with emotional processing and make you feel more settled. When combined with helpful tools like crystals that remove negative or anxious energy, naps can balance your emotional well-being and get you through challenging times.

You’ll Strengthen Your Immune System

As your mind and body rest during a nap, sleep activates and strengthens T-cells that form your immune system. It’s why you can recover from illness faster by napping while you don’t feel good. Avoid getting sick by napping a few times a week to support your immune system on a cellular level.

You’ll Avoid Caffeine Crashes

If you need to pull an all-nighter at school or drive through the night, drinking caffeine is risky. You’ll experience a post-caffeine energy crash that could pose a danger when you get behind the wheel or walk home from the library. Take a quick prophylactic nap before your evening activity and your body will create enough energy to get you through it.

Experience the Benefits of Napping

People who like to nap might feel like they’re wasting valuable time, but naps are an excellent way to monitor and regulate your health. You’ll enjoy the benefits of napping when your body gets the chance to strengthen your immune system, process emotions and retain memories better. Consider adding a few naps to your schedule and you’ll feel the many positive effects soon after waking up.