napping in the news
Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Athens Medical School have found that taking regular naps is really good for you:
The researchers found those who took naps of any frequency and duration had a 34% lower risk of dying from heart disease than those who did not take midday naps.
Those who took naps of more than 30 minutes three or more times a week had a 37% lower risk.
More on napping from Newsweek:
NASA sleep researchers have found that a nap of 26 minutes can boost performance by as much as 34 percent. A 2006 study from the Stanford University School of Medicine found that napping resulted in improved mood, increased alertness and reduced lapses in performance among doctors and nurses.
The French, for their part, are already trying to incorporate the news into their labor policies: France’s Health Minister, Xavier Bertrand, told reporters this month that the government—which already allows for a 35-hour work week—will be studying the effects of after-lunch naps at volunteer firms and will promote on-the-job naps if they prove useful. “Why not take a nap at work?” Bertrand told reporters. “It can’t be a taboo subject.”
I’m a dedicated lifelong napper (as is my dog) and take a nap most every afternoon. If you’re stressed out or burned out a lot at the end of the day, try scheduling naps into your day—I guarantee they’ll improve your quality of life.