Science has finally confirmed what we have all been thinking: naps are essential.
Usually common among babies, toddlers and the elderly, naps have been unfairly stolen from school-age children and adults. Fortunately, some very useful scientific studies are have proven that naps are actually beneficial to both the physical and mental health of adults, and as such, slipping a sneaky little siesta into your working day might be the answer to all your problems.
A recent study conducted in Greece has found that a nap in the middle of the day can lower blood pressure by 3mmHg (which is the standard unit of measurement). Although it may sound small, the study explains that a reduction as little as 2mmHg can reduce the risk of unfortunate cardiovascular issues by up to 10 per cent – and that is significant.
Another study by Harvard University discovered that a 60 to 90-minute nap can recharge your brain as much as the recommended eight hours of sleep can – but only if you achieve both REM sleep and Slow Wave Sleep.
Furthermore, the National Sleep Foundation reports that even short 20-30-minute naps can restore alertness, enhance performance, reduce mistakes and accidents in hazardous workplaces. In Fact, A NASA study on fatigued military pilots found that a 40-minute nap improved the pilot’s performance by 34 per cent and their alertness by 100 per cent.
It might just be time to invest in one of those stylish desktop nap pillows.
Subtle, right?
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