THE IMPORTANCEAND MECHANICS OF TAKING A NAP

You have been up for hours.  Maybe you have been working, or reading, or doing chores.  And maybe you have just had lunch.  You are not feeling all that energetic at the moment.  You could use a nap.  You want to break out of the funk, revive yourself.  

Most cultures around the world take time off in the day in order to nap. Think "siesta".  Americans seem to be among the conspicuous few who don't.

Can our intelligence benefit from sleep breaks?  Simply put, naps can restore us, keeping our mind sharp.  And not getting enough sleep can be downright unhealthy.  The research literature is filled with studies claiming that poor sleep quality may be connected to high blood pressure, diabetes, and other serious illnesses.

So how does one nap properly?  There are really only two pieces to the puzzle.

First, according to an article in the NY Times, the nap should last no longer than 20 minutes. Otherwise, nappers risk upsetting the brain activities important to developing and maintaining good memory function. 

Second, taking care of the basics is important - that is, locate a dark, quiet, comfortable place, free from potential distractions and disruptions.  

And that's pretty much it.  As they say, it's not rocket science.

Please excuse me for the next 20 minutes or so.

Click here for a look at the article in the NY Times.