When I was younger, napping was not my best friend. I remember complaining to my parents and telling them that I didn't need a nap. Although, as soon as they put me down I was out like a light.
Little kids are funny like that.
Fast forward many years later and now I voluntarily take a nap whenever I can. I would even go as far saying that I love to take a nap. Although sometimes I wonder if sleeping during the day is actually helping me at all. This led me to do something that most people who try to find an answer to their questions do: weigh the pros and cons.
Pros:
1. It Can Give Your Creativity Side A Major Boost.
Say you have to write a paper and you're experiencing a case of writer's block. You're getting nowhere and more frustrated by the minute. What do you do? Take a step back from your paper and take a power nap. Doing this will refresh your mind and allow a new flow of ideas to roll through. Then when you wake up and come back to it you're able to look at everything from a fresher perspective.
2. Reduces Stress.
If you get into the habit of taking a nap daily, studies have shown that your overall stress levels will be reduced. Stress can be caused by a lot of things, for example having to present in front of the class. You could end up getting a headache or high blood pressure. Taking a nap, even a short one, can be a relaxing break from the stress of the day. It could be like taking a vacation, a short one but at least it's free.
3. Prevents You From Doing Too Much And Getting Burned Out.
Sometimes you have a lot to do and think that taking a break will only slow you down. That is far from the truth though. Not to taking a break for hours at a time can actually decrease your productivity. Too much information is stuffed into your brain and it can't process it all fast enough. Naps can be a chance to take a break and let your brain process things.
Cons:
1. Develop problems falling asleep at night.
For most people, taking a nap doesn't mess with their ability to sleep soundlessly at night. However, if you take a nap too late in the day (like 6 or 7 p.m.), you do run the risk of not being able to relax when bedtime rolls around. In addition to this, if you already have an existing sleep problem (like insomnia or sleep inertia), napping can only worsen them.
2. Napping Too Long.
The best length of time to take a nap is 45 minutes. If those 45 minutes extend to three hours then that can cause you to wake up feeling tired and groggy. You'll wake up feeling even more tired than when you laid down. That's crazy right?
3. Napping Too Frequently During The Day.
It's one thing to take one twenty minute power nap during the day. It's another thing to take two or three naps during the day. If you get into the habit of napping frequently during the day then your body will get used to sleeping during the day. Next thing you know, you'll be angry and irritable 24/7.
Do the pros outweigh the cons? Do the cons outweigh the pros? My answer for that is that really it all depends on the person and what works best for them. Personally, I'm going to keep taking naps because they help me immensely.
The best way to find out if something works well for you is to experiment. Try to sleep at different times for any length of time. Figure out what's best for you.
Now, before you go falling asleep on me I'm going to leave you with this:
The most important thing that you need to remember is to enjoy it!
