Napping is often frowned upon. It is perceived among many as a sign of a weak physique or simply fatigue. Even though it is essential for people to have a good night’s sleep, the benefits of quick naps cannot be minimized. Quick and short naps, at least twice a day, helps the body in different ways. It not only impacts the physiological aspect of an individual, but also the much deeper psychological aspect of the person.

It is not the person being lethargic or tired, with napping the opposite is true. In addition to that, scientists have observed in a study that students or people with high pressure jobs perform well in their daily schedule if they incorporate napping into it. Hence, the benefits of napping are directly correlated with having a fresher mind and body. Here are a few more benefits of napping:

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1. Improves Alertness of The Mind

It is pretty natural that if you are drowsy, you would not be able to perform at your best. A recent WHO study has revealed that a minimum of 40 minutes of napping can improve the overall alertness and responsiveness of a tired person by 100%. Instead of being over caffeinated and tired, it is best to take a short nap before any major exam, job interview or such crucial events. This makes sure that you are 100% responsive during the crucial event, and your brain is all geared up and ready to work out.

2. Increases Memory and Receptivity

There have been lots of studies in the scientific community which states that short naps have a positive effect on the memory of a person. Napping hugely improves memory, especially your capacity to retain information. It also benefits overall reception of the individual, thus favoring his/her relaxed neo-cortex, the part of the brain which stores long-term memory. Aside from long-term memories, napping also improves your working memory. This helps in improving deeper understanding of any material, thus improving the students’ reception to their daily studies.

3. Prevents Fatigue and Information Overload

People often do not acknowledge the significance of a nap in pressure situations. It has been shown in polling studies that not sleep greatly reduces the brain’s capacity to retain information. On the other hand, taking a short 30 minutes of nap time can significantly boost information carrying capacity of the brain, and prevents any sort of burnout scenario, which commonly happens with sleep deprivation.

4. Improves Mood and Sensory Reception

Napping not only alerts the mind, it plays a major role in improving the mood of an individual. In case of anxiety and depression, sleep apnea is a common symptom. Taking short naps in between can greatly improve your mood, improve your sensory organs’ ability to receive stimuli, and also boosts your creativity in the process. Napping reduces the production of cortisol, which is known as the “stress” hormone, and boosts the production of serotonin, which regulates the mood and appetite of a person.

5. Increases Creative Outflow

Apart from regulating the hormonal balance in the body, napping can have a significant role in determining your creative outflow. Short naps before a creative performance boost your confidence, and untangle the cluster of doubt and fear in your mind. It rejuvenates the mind, thus creating a streamlined perception for the individual, which is a breeding ground for creative energy. This creates an overall experience of serenity where your creative aspirations are stimulated properly in your brain.

Thus, you can see that napping not only rejuvenates our body, it also helps in revitalizing the mind. It regulates the hormonal production in your body, and helps to keep the cortisol levels in check. By doing so, it prevents several complications that might arise due to high cortisol levels in the body. So, taking quick naps when you haven’t had a good shut eye is not only essential but crucial as well. Try it sometime and see the results for yourself!