Facts you didn’t know about napping

Ever been in that zone where you decide you’ll nap for half an hour at noon and then doze off for a good two hours? Result: You’re up all night like an owl, contemplating atoms, molecules, life and the Universe! We’ve all been there, repeatedly.

Here’s what you all you ‘napsters’ need to know about the art of napping before you get down to nap.

1. A good nap can leave you feeling refreshed and ready to take on the remaining part of the day and seize the night with all that you’ve got!

2. A bad nap can upset your entire sleep cycle, leaving you feeling like you haven’t slept at allthe next morning; not to forget, making you grumpy as ever!

3. Making up for a ‘lost night’s sleep’ the next day doesn’t make it any better as it onlydisrupts your biological system and puts you out of your clock! If your nap takes away from your night’s slumber, it leaves you feeling low and overcome by fatigue due to the endless loop you’ve put your sleep cycle in. Frustrating, yet helpless!

4. There is a different kind of importance that a nighttime’s sleep has, when compared to a noontime nap. Your goodnight’s sleep is a consolidate package and is detrimental for your core functioning. A nap in the day is supposed to be like a break to revitalize you and does not interfere with your night’s sleep.

5. A midday nap is supposed to be anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes; nothing longer. This is also what is called a Power Nap. An extension of this time frame will make you slip in to a deeper slumber that is difficult to awaken from.

6. Napping is a one-time act; that is, just one short nap in the middle of the day is all you ever need, no matter how much your body may beg you for a second, or even a third round. Do not indulge.

© Thinkstock/Getty Images

7. If you feel drowsy post your midday nap, it is likely that you have not had the right amount of sleep the previous night. If this feeling continues, you should visit a doctor as it could be sleep apnea—a disorder that can result in multiple negative effects on your system, if overlooked.

8. An afternoon nap should be accompanied and monitored by an alarm clock. The perks of a well-timed nap is that you can fall asleep feeling no pressure of oversleeping or stressing about waking up every 5 minutes.

9. Your afternoon nap should always be completed before 3pm, failing which, it could take away from your night’s sleep.

10. Ideally, you should keep a track on your napping; and furthermore, your general sleeping patterns. If you have a great memory and are good at keeping tabs on these observations, it won’t be much of a problem remembering this. If not, maintain a note, or a diary of your sleep. I know it sounds silly; but, hear me out: Over time, it’s hard to remember these minute details because you deem it trivial in comparison to your board meetings and finances. Over time, you also realize how important it is to remember these patterns because it could affect your general health.

11. If you’re having trouble falling asleep—noon, or night—we suggest that you try a week without naps. If the problem continues, seek medical advice.

12. Now, if you’re not a natural-born ‘napster’ (some of us aren’t), don’t fret. If a midday nap is just not your thing, seek an alternative like drinking a glass of chilled water, regular stretches and taking brisk walks to increase your heart rate and feel refreshed in the middle of the day.

On that note, we’re napping out!