Do You Need A Power Nap?

If you snooze you... well, it turns out you win actually. Here are seven reasons why short sleeps rock…

- Adila Jallal

The spanish may have been onto something with the siesta, but naps are a luxury not many of us have time for. Besides, we’ve been told over and over that we’ll only wake up groggy and won’t sleep well that night. But recent studies show that an afternoon kip could actually be good for you...

HEIGHTEN CREATIVITY

Catching 40 winks when you’re planning for that big meeting or need to make a major decision may seem counter-intuitive, but studies suggest that napping allows the right (creative) side of your brain to ‘chat’ to itself, which boosts cognitive function and fuses diverse ideas together. Which explains why, post-power nap, big decisions seem easier.

INCREASE FOCUS

Did you know some brief shut-eye can reduce performance-based errors by up to 34% and increase alertness by a staggering 100%? Well, a NASA study carried out on a group of sleepy military pilots and astronauts found that just a 40-minute nap worked wonders, which proves that less really is more!

BOOST YOUR HAPPINESS

If your mood starts to drop, a short nap could help. Studies have shown that 20 to 30 minutes of sleep can improve your sense of well-being. Of those studied, those who napped for less than half an hour felt more cheerful than those who slept longer or not at all during the day.