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Who doesn't enjoy a nap? Even if it is only a short period, your brain maybe significantly impacted. NASA states that a power nap should last at least 26 minutes. Inemuri, short power sleep, and Hirune, or afternoon short nap, are terms used in Japan. The Spanish take siestas or afternoon power naps.
The ideal time for naps is typically in the early afternoon, between 1 and 3 PM. According to new research from NASA Ames Research Center, brief, focused naps can effectively combat the dreaded microsleep and sleep exhaustion.
According to NASA, a 26-minute nap is ideal for clearing your head. It can revitalize your body and mind, even if it is typically a lighter stage of sleep that isn't deep enough to cause sleep inertia.
A 2023 study by researchers from the University of the Republic in Uruguay and University College London (UCL) suggests that regular naps may improve our general health and keep our brains active for longer. Victoria Garfield, a senior research fellow at UCL's MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, showed in his research that napping is significant for the cognitive development of babies. Also, for adults, a short nap for about 5 to 15 minutes can improve mental health performance immediately.
Studies show that 15 to 20 minute naps prevent people from falling into deep sleep, which is crucial for long-term memory or processing newly acquired information. During this time, the body repairs and regenerates tissues, boosting the immune system and building muscle.
In his research, neurologist Dr. Sudhir Kumar claims that our bodies go through different sleep cycles as we sleep, each lasting between 90 to 120 minutes and that we eventually fall profoundly asleep.
If you are fortunate enough to take a 26-minute nap, you may go past the most profound sleep cycles and wake up feeling recharged. If your sleep cycle is disrupted, you may experience dizziness, sleepiness, and disorientation, which will negatively impact the objective of your power nap.
You must do certain things if you want your power napping to be successful. First and foremost, try to take naps in dark or dimly lit places and possess a more extraordinary space that helps lower body temperature, is comfortable, and is quiet. If necessary, wear earplugs. The ideal nap requires appropriate timing, length, and perfect surroundings.