(17-09-12) Wake up to the benefits of power napping Boost clarity, happiness and cardiovascular health with this one daily habit

by Carolanne Wright

(NaturalNews) Albert Einstein, Leonardo Da Vinci, Nikola Tesla, Winston
Churchill and John F. Kennedy all have one thing in common: daily mid-afternoon
naps. Linked with clarity, increased performance, memory, mood and even heart
health, naps are an economical (and fun) way to boost mental and physical
health. Many companies are now sanctioning office nap times to increase
productivity and morale. By following a few simple steps, a blissful catnap can
become a happy and healthful habit.

Guilt-free napping
Seeking an excuse to grab a bit of shut-eye? Take a look at the following
benefits:

Cardiovascular heath - Greek researchers found that men who took a 30 minute
nap at least three times a week lowered their risk of dying from a heart attack
by 37 percent. Factors such as smoking, diet and activity level were included
in the study.

Healthy weight management - When energy naturally drops in the afternoon,
coffee and sugar tend to be the usual stimulants of choice. But afternoon
sleepiness is a biological rhythm related to a slight decrease in body
temperature -- nature is telling us that it wants us to take a nap. By
attempting to ward off drowsiness with caffeine and sugary snacks, biorhythm is
disrupted, extra calories are consumed and a rollercoaster ride of energy
spikes and crashes begins. This vicious cycle contributes to unwanted extra
pounds.

Alertness, improved mood and performance - A mid-afternoon nap can help with
depression, dullness and lack of clarity -- all of which can hinder physical
and mental performance. As seen in the Harvard Health Letter, a New Zealand
study found that "air traffic controllers working the night shift scored better
on tests of alertness and performance if they took advantage of a planned nap
period of 40 minutes."

According to Sara Mednick, PhD, sleep medicine researcher and author of Take a
nap! Change Your Life, a nap will also:

- Reverse aging
- Strengthen the sex drive
- Accelerate the ability to perform motor tasks
- Enhance how the body utilizes carbs
- Minimize stress hormones
- Alleviate migraines
- Reduce brain chatter before nighttime sleep

Napping basics
A few quick tips to get the most out of a nap:

- Try to keep naps under 45 minutes to avoid grogginess
- Naps are best taken between 1:00 and 3:00 PM
- 30 minute naps improve memory and physical health
- 20 minute naps are revitalizing and help to sharpen the senses
- 10 minute naps help to uplift mood and fend-off afternoon energy slumps

Sleeping on the job
Even large companies are beginning to see the benefit of power naps. Google
has 'nap pods' that create a sleeping oasis by blocking sound and light while
Intuit Canada provides nap rooms for its employees to enhance overall
productivity. A napping spa in Manhattan is used by big names such as Hearst
Corporation, Newsweek and Time Warner. Clients enjoy a "cocoon-like" treatment
room with adjustable lighting, sound and aromatherapy.

But a fancy cocoon is not necessary to take advantage of napping benefits.
Simply get comfortable, close your eyes, set the alarm and bask in this
nurturing (and productive) habit.

Sources for this article include:

"The Benefits of Napping" Deborah Serani, Psy.D., Psychology Today, February
18, 2012. Retrieved on August 23, 2012 from: http://www.psychologytoday.com

"Napping: Do's and don'ts for healthy adults" Mayo Clinic. Retrieved on August
23, 2012 from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/napping/MY01383/NSECTIONGROUP=2

"Napping may not be such a no-no" Harvard Health Letter, November 2009.
Retrieved on August 23, 2012 from: http://www.health.harvard.edu

"19 reasons to take a nap" Ellen Michaud with Julie Bain, Best Health.
Retrieved on August 23, 2012 from: http://www.besthealthmag.ca

"Siestas have heart-healthy effects, study suggests" CBC News, February 12,
2007. Retrieved on August 23, 2012 from: http://www.cbc.
ca/news/health/story/2007/02/12/siesta-heart.html

"The Benefits of Naps" Dr. Gregg D. Jacobs, July 27, 2004, Talk about Sleep.
Retrieved on August 24, 2012 from: http://www.talkaboutsleep.com

"Power Nap: Promote Health and Happiness" Janice Taylor. Beliefnet. Retrieved
on August 23, 2012 from: http://blog.beliefnet.com

"Businesses waking up to the benefits of napping" Jascha Hoffman. Bloomberg
Businessweek, September 6, 2010. Retrieved on August 23, 2012 from: http://www.
msnbc.msn.com

News

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