Tired Yet?
by: Matthew Krajewski
In other cultures, a siesta or mid-day nap is culturally accepted as the norm. However, over here in the United States, it is taking a bit longer for us to catch up on understanding the essential benefits of a midday rest. John F. Kennedy, Thomas Edison, and Eleanor Roosevelt all enjoyed a midday snooze, so there must be something gained from “taking it easy.”
And there is. As the afore mentioned great thinkers may demonstrate by the accomplishments in their lives, napping during the day can keep your brain activity high, while not taking nap will result in a steady decline in brain activity throughout the day. Taking a power nap during the day can increase memory retention, improve learning functions, and reduce stress levels.
If you want to take a nap, it is essential no to sleep more than an hour, nor sleep after 4PM, as breaking both of these rules can result in disrupting your natural circadian rhythm and make nighttime sleep difficult. So basically, make sure to nap earlier in the day, and not for too long.
Taking a nap in the afternoon is useful only in the Summer season. That is what the Indian Ayurvedic texts recommend. If one takes a nap during winter, one tends to put on weight and the brain becomes dull rather than becoming sharp!
Comment by Sunil Mehta — April 2, 2008 @ 6:40 am