Why Napping is Good for You

I take a nap every single day. I just have to. My body wants it and needs it. Even a small 15 minute nap rejuvenates me so that I can get through the rest of my day! Taking a nap is good for you at any age and this post will share why!

Taking a nap is nothing new, People in other countries take naps too! After all, isn't that what a siesta is?

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the siesta, or midday nap, goes back thousands of years and is still common in warmer countries where Spanish is spoken. However, they are also relatively common in other countries such as Italy (called a riposo), Greece, the Philippines, Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Nigeria.

Apparently, the tradition began so that farmers could take a rest during the hottest time of the day, usually for about 2 hours. Even though this reason may no longer be necessary (for many of us anyway), a nap, or siesta, is still a good idea for many reasons!

• It is still a very good idea to be out of the Sun at the time of day when the rays are the most direct (think skin cancer and more....) which is usually around noon.
• ​Even if you don't rest for two hours, any rest 15 minutes or more will help energize you for the remainder of the day.
• Many countries recognize the afternoon siesta as being important whether for resting or just spending time at home with family for a meal and their day literally stops for the afternoon siesta!
• Napping not only re-engerizes you, but it will help with your motor function and thinking. You will be able to work like new again! This reduces mistakes and accidents as well.
• Stress can be relieved through napping every day.
• This in turn can boost your mood levels and make you feel better.

Some interesting facts:
Source: http://sleep.org/articles/napping-around-the-world/
Note: These are taken word for word from the site above as changing them would not have made any sense!

• In China: Workers often take a break after lunch and put their heads on their desks for an hour-long nap. It’s considered a Constitutional right.
• In Italy: The riposo may begin anytime between noon and 1:30pm and run until 2:30pm to 4:00pm. Businesses shut down, and public venues like museums and churches lock their doors so their employees can go home for a leisurely lunch and a snooze.
• In Spain: The siesta is deeply ingrained, as businesses often close for hours to accommodate the mid-day rest. While the siesta can span two hours, only a fraction of the time is actually spent napping; first, there’s lunch with family and friends, then a rest. Because of the mid-day break, people often work later into the evening.
• In the U.S., napping isn’t quite a cultural tradition—at least not yet. But we’re gradually moving closer to that lifestyle. Some big-name companies (like Google) are becoming increasingly nap-friendly, largely because they believe that it increases productivity. Go Google!​

I know that many people think that if you nap regularly you are either lazy or sick. Napping is usually only associated with babies, children, old people, or sick people after all. Right? Well, no, not right. There have been some very famous, and very significant people in history that were nappers! Here are just a few: Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Albert Einstein, Napoleon, John F. Kennedy, and George W. Bush are all said to have taken afternoon naps regularly!
​

Moral of the story?
Take a nap every day!
​It should be obvious by now that it is
​good for you :-)

Thanks for visiting!
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Sincerely,

Sources:
https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/napping
http://sleep.org/articles/napping-around-the-world/