How Napping Affects Your Creativity
Who doesn’t love a good nap? Naps are a great way to take a midday break, boost your productivity, and make it through until the end of the day.
Do you ever feel yourself going through spurts of energy only to feel tired in an hour? That’s because of your circadium rhythm. Your circadium rhythm is essentially your body shifting from periods of alertness and tiredness. This means our energy levels naturally change throughout the day. For a majority of people, this happens after lunchtime.
The University of Pennsylvania did a research study on naps and their effect on mental performance in about 3,000 participants. They found that those who took about one hour long naps after lunch performed better on tests than those who napped for longer or shorter periods of time, or didn’t nap at all. Long story short, napping improves your cognitive function, but it needs to be the perfect nap.
Sleep fluctuates in a cycle - there are periods of deeper and lighter sleep. You want to time your nap so that you wake up during one of the lighter periods of sleep. That way you wake up refreshed and ready to go, as opposed to groggy and more tired than when you fell asleep. The sleep cycle lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, so time your naps accordingly. If you have the time, go for the full 60 minutes. Otherwise, take a 20 minute power to still reap some benefits.
Before you nap, make sure you have the right setup for it. If you’re like me, and it takes ages to fall asleep, make sure you’re in a dark and calm environment. Use an eye mask to help, take off your shoes, and get cozy. Napping is the perfect pick-me-up for a sluggish day, but remember: naps do not replace a good night’s sleep!
Now who’s ready to take a nap today?