Struggling to get a good night’s sleep? You’re in good company. So many people are dealing with sleeplessness during the pandemic, there’s even a name for it - “coronasomnia.” And a recent survey of 2-thousand adults in the U.S. finds that 61% can’t remember the last time they got enough sleep and 22% feel they never do. Fortunately, there’s a simple fix - a nap. And taking a midday snooze comes with a lot of benefits.
And it doesn’t need to be long to get them. In fact, the ideal length for a nap is only 10 to 20 minutes, which is long enough to provide recovery benefits, but not so long it leaves you sleepy afterward. If you do take a 20-minute siesta, you’ll enjoy these science-backed benefits:
●You’ll feel instantly happier - A short power nap can boost your mood, according to one study. It finds a clear link between naps lasting less than 30 minutes and increased rates of happiness. And the “short nappers” reported feeling consistently happy on a day-to-day basis, compared to “long nappers” and “no nappers.”
●You’ll lower your risk of heart attack and stroke - A long-term study from Switzerland finds that those who take one to two afternoon naps a week had a 48% lower risk for having a heart attack, stroke or heart failure.
●You’ll improve your brain power - Research suggests a regular midday nap can help keep the mind sharp into old age. A study of 2-thousand Chinese adults over age 60 finds the habitual nappers scored much higher on tests measuring memory, verbal fluency and locational awareness.
●But don’t over do it - Less is more when it comes to snoozing in the afternoon. Napping for an hour has been found to increase heart disease risk as well as overall risk of death, according to arecent study.