There are days where there is nothing more essential than a nap. Naps and sleep in general have been referred to by many as the "human reset button" or the "human equivalent of the turn it off and back on again" fix it solution. I agree with this statement 100%, although sometimes naps can work a little too well.

A prime example being when that 10-minute power nap takes you from 0 to 100 in the early evening and now its 10 p.m. and you can't seem to get to sleep.

Or, what if that 20 minute timed nap turns into an hour because you rolled back over?

Consequently, naps have two main effects. The first being: refilling your energy reserves. The second: priming for sleep mode. Depending on the goal of the day, these can be extremely helpful side effects of napping effectively and efficiently; however, this is not always the case.

Oftentimes it is when you need the energizing nap that your body gives you the sleepy result.

The reason for this is because your body isn't always going to give you what you want. More often than not it is going to give you what you need.

That 20-minute nap that made you more tired than before, is your body's way of telling you "Hey! Get more sleep!"

The power nap you wake up from ready to go means you might be sleeping a little too much. What your body needs is a balance between being awake and asleep to work effectively and even though naps can indicate an imbalance and maybe help to fix the problem at hand, relying on them instead of creating a sleep schedule that works for you could be detrimental in the long run.

High school and college students are prime culprits when it comes to wacky sleep schedules which result in a preference for napping over other activities. This can be an indicator of high-stress levels, poor diet, depression, and so much more than a lack of sleep, or a lack of quality sleep.

If you notice that sleeping becomes a problem for you, or your naps are taking over what little spare time you have, then perhaps it is time to consult a doctor or re-evaluate your daily routine.

Naps are amazing, but they should not be what a person is relying on to function properly. Quality sleep can be disrupted by such a wide variety of issues that at times it can be hard to nail down exactly what is going on with your body. The problem remains: humans need sleep.

Naps are a way to achieve sleep; however napping too much could also disrupt your natural sleep cycle as well. Making a sleep schedule and nightly routine that works for your general needs and/or wants could help maximizing your time awake during a day.

Once again, if sleep evades you for long periods of time, or your naps become persistent and longer in duration it may be time to consult a doctor or sleep specialist.