Should I Take Naps?: The Pros and Cons of Taking a Nap
What is Napping?
“to sleep for a short time; doze”- www.dictionary.com
What do you think of when you hear the term “napping”? Most people immediately think of children. But what about adults that nap? Though there are many misconceptions about adults that nap, it can be a healthy habit. Before choosing to adopt this routine, weigh pros and cons to find out if it is best for you. If you find napping is helpful, following some simple guidelines can help make your naps powerful and effective.
Drowsy- A Haiku
Head heavy, nodding.
Craving to curl like baby.
Eyes drop, finally.
By KrystalD
Common Misconceptions about Naps
1. Laziness-Many people see adult napping as a sign of laziness or lack of motivation. On the contrary, naps can be a sign of a very active person.
2. For babies, the sick or elderly-Another misnomer is that naps are for babies, the sick or the elderly. Naps can be appropriate for all people regardless of age or physical condition.
3. Naps cause insomnia-Napping does not cause insomnia. Insomnia is a medical condition mostly signified by a chronic loss of sleep. The causes vary from one or more psychological, physical or temporary factors.
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Pros to Napping
1. Energy-The main reason an adult might consider a nap is because of midday tiredness. Naps are proven to help give an increase of energy if it is the correct length .
2. Mood boost-Napping can be a cure for the grumpiness that accompanies tiredness. When you take a brief nap, it can do wonders for your attitude through the rest of the day.
3. Alertness-Did you know that many accidents occur because of lack of alertness? If you have ever driven a car while tired, you know that it effects your response time.
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Excessively Tired?
Cons to Napping
1. Grogginess-A nap can cause some people to feel groggy. This is mostly due to taking too long of a nap.
2. Sleep trouble-Long naps can also through off nighttime sleep patterns. This is especially true for people that have pre-existing sleep conditions such as insomnia. Naps are not recommended in such cases.
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3 Nap Guidelines
1. Keep it short-As stated above, nap length is really the determiner of whether a nap will be beneficial. A healthy nap for an adult should never exceed 30 minutes.
2. Find a private place-A nap can be taken anywhere from a break room to a car. The key is to find a private, preferably quiet location as to unsure a lack of interruption.
3. Revive and refresh-After your nap, freshen yourself up for a quick transition back to your day.
Sleep Guidelines by Age
Age
| Length of Nap
| Frequency Per Day
|
|---|---|---|
Newborn to 6 months
| 3-5 hours
| 2-3 times
|
6 months- 1 year
| 3-4 hours
| 2 times
|
Toddlers
| 1-3 hours
| 1 time
|
Preschool to School-age
| 1 hour
| 1 time
|
Teenage to Elderly
| 10-30 min
| 1 time
|
3 Items to Make Your Nap GREAT!
1. Pillow-Having a pillow from home makes a nap even more comfortable. It may also cause you to fall asleep quicker.
2. Alarm clock-An an alarm clock can help ensure that your nap stay short and sweet.
3. Ear plugs-Let’s face it, it’s loud during the day! Ear plugs can give you instant quickness even in the loudest city.
Other Hubs of Napping
- I Need a Nap!
With all the demands in our lives do you ever find you just don't have enough energy? Do you need a nap in the afternoon or find you are dragging yourself to bed at night? - What are the health benefits of napping?
Napping is not a complete terminology because it is halfhearted sleep. maybe an afternoon siesta. THE NANO-NAP: 10 to 20 seconds Sleep studies haven't yet concluded whether there are benefits . THE... - Getting a Good Nap: How It Is Done by People Who Are...
There are good naps and then there are bad naps. You know the difference not so much when you are actually sleeping as when you wake up. A good nap will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to continue on with your day. A bad nap will leave you...
Do you take naps?
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References
- What Causes Insomnia? | ehealthMD
There are many possible causes of insomnia. Sometimes there is one main cause, but often several factors interacting together will cause a sleep disturbance. The causes of insomnia include: Psychological causes; Physical causes and Temporary events o - KidsHealth - the Web\'s most visited site about children\'s health
- Napping | National Sleep Foundation - Information on Sleep Health and Safety
