If you are sleep deprived or just looking for a way to relax, you may be thinking about taking a nap, but napping at the wrong time of day or for too long can backfire.
What are the benefits of napping?
Napping offers several benefits for healthy adults, including:
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Relaxation
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Reduction of fatigue
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Increased alertness
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Improves mood
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Performance improvement, including faster reaction time, better memory, less confusion, and fewer crashes and errors
What are the downsides of napping?
Napping is not for everyone, as some people have trouble sleeping in places other than their own beds, while others simply cannot sleep during the day, which can also have negative effects, such as:
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Sleep inertia. You may feel groggy and disoriented after waking up from a nap.
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Sleep problems at night: Short naps generally do not affect the quality of sleep during the night for most people. However, if you experience insomnia or poor quality sleep at night, napping can make these problems worse, as long naps can interfere with your sleep at night.