The Benefits of Naps

Many people feel the need to take a nap each day or sometimes just every so often, but yet, many people also question if there are actually benefits of naps or perhaps drawbacks of naps, as well. Naps are taken daily or otherwise somewhat regularly by many people of all ages - from infants up through centarians. Actually, according to the National Sleep Foundation, humans are in the minority of the 85% of mammalian species who sleep for shorter periods all throughout the day, otherwise referred to as polyphasic sleepers. Humans, generally, tend to divide their days into a period of sleep and a period of being awake, while this may not actually be the primitive sleeping pattern for human beings.

The National Sleep Foundation notes several benefits of napping, including increased alertness and performance as well as a decrease in accidents and mistakes. One study at NASA that was performed on astronauts and military pilots who felt tired, the foundation notes, proved this. The tired astronauts and military pilots that each took a 40 minute nap had a 100% increase in alertness as well as a 34% increase in performance. The National Sleep Foundation also says that napping actually has psychological benefits, and that it "can be a pleasant luxury, a mini-vacation."

Dr. Gregg D. Jacobs also notes many benefits of naps in his article entitled "The Benefit of Naps." One of the benefits of naps that Dr. Jacobs notes is that research has suggested that a nap taken in the afternoon, even one as short as just 10 minutes, can increase one's mood as well as their mental performance and alertness. It is noted that this is especially true after a night of inadequate sleep. Dr. Jacobs also says that an afternoon nap will help one feel more energetic, yet one of the drawbacks is that a person may feel groggy after a mid-afternoon nap, but this is only temporary. Another advocate of the benefits of naps is psychologist William Anthony, Ph.D. who regularly takes afternoon naps, which he states "increases productivity, sharpens the senses, and lifts the spirit," according to MedicineNet.com. A study done by the University of California at Berkley also proposes additional benefits of napping, including improved long term memory as well as an increase in creative thinking.

The benefits of naps, according the the majority of research, seem to outweigh the drawbacks of naps, so feel free to catch an afternoon nap after a poor night of sleep!

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Sources:
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/napping
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-disorders/archives/insomnia_drjacobs_benefits_of_naps.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50785
http://www.nbc11news.com/localnews/headlines/85432512.html