Afternoon nap is good if you don’t make it sound sleep

Some people are more attached to afternoon naps than sleeps at late nights. After meals, a nap for a few minutes can give a day full of refreshment. But some people mark naps as distinct trademarks of lazy people. Some people say, only younger kids and elderly people should sleep in the afternoon. Anyways, a short break from daily activities in the form of naps is harmless. It makes you fresh and gives more energy to work later. But the only point is never extent those short breaks to long sleeps. If so it can give you a lazy day and sleepless night!

Never mix naps with sleeps

When the afternoon nap extends to sleep, it gives you a few problems. When you wake up, you may feel tired instead of feeling refreshed. Your actions may get slow. Because of sleep inertia, you may not easily return to daily work. It also affects your night sleep and its deeper phases. You may wake from sleep easily, as it is not sound. When your night sleep is not ok, the next whole day is fully gone! It can disturb the sleep pattern and intervals, and thus the whole routine.

How long can you take nap in the afternoons?

10-15 minutes is enough. For kids and senior citizens, the time may be extended to 30 minutes or 1 hour. After lunch, choose the time between 2 pm and 3 pm, which is idle for taking naps. When you take nap after that, it can affect your night sleep. There should be at least 4 hour gap between the two intervals.

Which group of people are really in need of short sleeps?

Sleep improves the memory power of growing children. That’s why nursery kids are given sleep in the afternoons. Sleep also gives them energy, concentration and refreshment. Senior citizens should take half hour light exercises in the evening after the nap. They can walk for a while. It gives them good sleep at night.

For night owls who work at late nights and those who work in night shifts definitely need naps at day time. For those people suffering from the condition of narcolepsy, where he/she sleeps while working or talking also need naps.

Should we avoid afternoon naps?

Students and office-goers may not able to sleep in the afternoons. Those who are deprived of sleep at nights because of day sleeps should also avoid naps. If you feel sleepy wash your face with cold water and drink a glass of water. For a few minutes, talk with your friends or talk to someone on phone. It can help you from falling into sleep. You can also walk a few steps and do small tasks to forget about sleep.

Image source: Pixabay  

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